Emergency Medical Call Taker
If you’re looking for a job that will test your limits, challenge you daily, and place you at the heart of emergency response—this might be the toughest and most rewarding role you’ll ever have.
As an Emergency Medical Call Taker, you are the voice people hear when they call 111 in moments of crisis. You'll be expected to stay calm and focused while managing high-pressure, emotionally charged situations—guiding people through some of the worst moments of their lives.
This role is demanding—mentally, emotionally, and physically. You'll be working in a fast-paced, high-volume environment where every second counts. You’ll take call after call, each one different and often distressing, requiring you to remain composed, think fast, and communicate with accuracy and empathy. Calls can involve themes such as suicide, cardiac arrest and childbirth.
This role operates on a high-commitment, structured shift pattern:
• Two 12-hour day shifts
• Two 12-hour night shifts
• Followed by four days off
The schedule is challenging and requires sustained focus and resilience across long hours, including overnight work. It’s not a typical 9-to-5—this is a role that asks a lot of you. But for those who thrive in dynamic, purposeful environments, the four days off allow for rest, balance, and recovery.
Training and Pay
• Training rate: $27.82 per hour for the first 12 weeks (classroom and mentoring)
• Base rate after the successful completion of the training and mentoring period: $30.97 per hour
• Full-time training begins 20 October 2025
• After 6 months, flexible work options (including part-time) may be available
What You’ll Get in Return
While the role comes with its challenges, it also offers a deep sense of purpose and fulfilment. You will:
• Make a meaningful impact on your community every single shift
• Join a supportive, close-knit team that understands the highs and lows of the work
• Receive full on-the-job training and great career development opportunities
• Be part of a respected not-for-profit, unique to the Greater Wellington and Wairarapa region
• Access benefits like free parking, EAP services, staff discounts, and flu vaccines
This job will challenge you. It will also give you pride, purpose, and the knowledge that your work truly matters.
About us
Wellington Free Ambulance’s vision is to be a trusted and reliable ambulance service that provides excellence in emergency response and connected services to move our communities to better health.
We’re the only emergency ambulance service for Greater Wellington and Wairarapa and proud of the place we hold in our communities, and the high-quality care that our people deliver every day. As well as providing emergency ambulance services, Wellington Free Ambulance also provides a Patient Transfer Service that transports patients to and from scheduled healthcare appointments, a Clinical Communications Centre answering 111 calls, and Event Medical support to a huge number of community, sporting and festival events. We also teach our communities lifesaving CPR skills through The Lloyd Morrison Foundation Heartbeat Programme.
Wellington Free Ambulance has been described as having a boutique feel due to the specific region we serve. Our region covers an area from Cook Strait in the south to just north of Waikanae around Peka Peka on the Kāpiti Coast. In the Wairarapa, our area goes as far north as Mt Bruce. In total, around 500,000 people call our region home. Thanks to our boutique feel, when you join you become part of our whānau and really do make a huge impact on our communities!
Wellington Free Ambulance is committed to building an inclusive workforce with a focus on equity, diversity and inclusion to provide a stronger internal and external culture and to improve our organisational performance. We value and embrace differences in all people and encourage diverse ways of thinking and being.
Who we are looking for
- Unshakeable Resilience & Mental Toughness – You will deal with highly emotional and distressing situations daily. The ability to manage stress, stay composed, and think clearly under pressure is essential.
- Confidence Under Pressure – When every second counts, you need to be decisive, assertive, and able to take control of challenging situations.
- Strong Communication & Empathy – You will be speaking to people in highly emotional and often life-threatening situations. Being able to calmly guide callers, build rapport quickly, and extract critical details is vital.
- Quick Thinking & Problem Solving – Emergencies are unpredictable. You must be able to assess situations rapidly, make informed decisions, and adapt to constantly changing circumstances.
- Ability to Multi-Task in a Fast-Paced Environment – You will need to listen, type, think, and respond simultaneously, all while maintaining 100% accuracy and speed.
- Commitment to Learning & Growth – This role comes with intensive training and requires a mindset of continuous improvement. Every call is different, and you must be ready to learn, adapt, and refine your skills every day.
Ready to Step Into a Career That Will Change You—and Save Lives? See the details below:
Applications Close: 6 August
Click here to view the Job Description.
Questions? Email us: recruitment@wfa.org.nz
- This is a hard job—but it's also one of the most meaningful you can do. If you have the strength, the drive, and the heart, we want to hear from you.
Because this role is classified as ‘safety sensitive,’ a Pre-employment Health Check, including a Drug and Alcohol test, is required. This test screens for various substances, including prescription medications.
The five drug classes that fall under the AS/NZS-4308:2008 banner for workplace drug testing are as follows:
- Amphetamine-type substances
- Benzodiazepines
- Cannabis Metabolites
- Cocaine metabolites
- Opiates
If your health check results are abnormal or your drug test returns a non-negative result, you may be required to provide further information and/or medical clearance.
