About Us
We are the only emergency ambulance service in greater Wellington and the Wairarapa, and the only ones in the country who are free.
We are the only emergency ambulance service in greater Wellington and the Wairarapa, and the only ones in the country who are free.
What we doOur news
Celebrating Australasia’s best this International Women’s Day
Celebrating Australasia’s best this International Women’s Day
08 March 2019
This International Women’s Day we’re celebrating all of New Zealand’s hard-working women, least of which one of New Zealand and Australia’s best Emergency Medical Call Takers.
Natasha Ellis treats every call the same; whether it is a serious or minor emergency, or a call from within her own team for help.
Affectionately known as Tash, the Wellington Free Ambulance call taker was named Australasia Emergency Medical Dispatcher of the Year in 2018.
For seven years, Tash has been there in someone’s time of need.
Prepared for anything, she is always calm under pressure – whether it’s taking between 50 and 100 calls on a Saturday night or talking someone through CPR or a childbirth until the paramedics arrive in an ambulance.
“The rewarding part is helping people through stressful situations because you are there to help them. You do feel like you’ve made a difference sometimes, especially during the tough calls.
“The stressful stuff is really rewarding at the end of it, especially when there is a good outcome for the patient.”
Executive Director Communications Centre and Patient Coordination, Kate Jennings, nominated one such call.
An elderly lady called 111 because she was sick, scared, and thought she was dying.
To Tash, it was another opportunity to help someone.
“To me it was a regular call, someone who was struggling to breath and she needed some help.
“She turned out to be OK, but she had no family or friends and she didn’t know what to do – she was pretty stressed.”
Tash stayed with her on the phone, reassuring her until the paramedics arrived.
“She was really appreciative of that,” Tash says. “That was quite special, especially to hear in her voice how I was able to calm her down.”
Tash was immensely proud to be named Australasia’s Emergency Medical Dispatcher of the Year, and surprised because Wellington Free is one of Australasia’s smallest services.
Yet they constantly punch above their weight, having won three times out of the last four.
“Every person in the team does an amazing job at providing such a great service for our patients,” Tash says.
“As one big supportive family we help each other through the highs and lows. Our team truly is special and so amazing at what they do.”