The Committees
Strategic and Business Advisory Committee (SBAC)
The SBAC meets twice each year. As a Standing Committee of the Council of Ambulance Authorities Inc., the SBAC provides a focus and acts as the key advisory group to the CAA on matters relating to the strategic direction and development of business, resourcing, planning, reporting and operational matters within the sector.
The annual collection and collation of data for the Report on Government Services is undertaken by the CAA secretariat on behalf of this Committee.
Current priorities for SBAC include product costing; demand management; workforce planning (in conjunction with Health Workforce Australia) and developing an improved set of performance indicators for ambulance services.
Ambulance Education Committee (AEC)
The AEC meets twice each year. The AEC as a Standing Committee of the Council of Ambulance Authorities Inc., provides a focal point on matters related to ambulance education programs and of professional practice by the industry and to consider education matters relevant to the provision of quality ambulance services and provide recommendations on specific matters when requested by the Board of the CAA.
The AEC oversees the work of the Paramedic Education Accreditation Program (PEPAP) which reviews and accredits entry-level university degree courses for paramedics. It also looks at new methods of delivering education including simulation and e-learning.
The AEC is a key vehicle for stakeholder engagement between universities, the paramedic profession and the CAA in the development of the higher education accreditation program agenda.
Emergency Management Committee (EMC)
The EMC meets twice each year. The activities of the EMC include the ongoing provision of advice to the CAA Board relating to issues affecting resource capacities and development, and national standards and technical advice.
There has been an agreement that in future all ambulance services will use a standard triage tag system. This system went through a number of trials before agreement was reached. EMC members represent the CAA on a number of national committees which assist in ensuring the ambulance agenda is continually represented when emergency management issues are discussed at a national level including the Australian Health Protection Principle Committee (AHPPC).
The EMC looks at the involvement of ambulance services in major emergencies with a view to distilling the lessons to be applied to future events.
Other CAA Working Groups
Clinical Forum (CF)
The Clinical Forum (CF) meets twice each year. The CF provides an opportunity for the Medical Directors and the Clinical Managers of member services (and such other specialists in pre-hospital emergency service as may be determined) to consider clinical matters relevant to the provision of quality ambulance services and provide recommendations on specific matters when requested by the Board of the CAA.
These meetings provide an opportunity to share clinical research occurring within each jurisdiction and enables future collaboration to the benefit of all jurisdictions.
Rural and Remote Group (RRG)
The Rural and Remote Group (RRG) provides an Australasian focus and acts as the key advisory group to the CAA on matters relating to the strategic direction and development of ambulance related services in rural and remote areas. There is a particular reference to models of service delivery and strategic issues that include delivery of volunteer ambulance services.
When required the RRG assists the host jurisdiction in planning a rural and remote symposium in conjunction with CAA’s Annual Conference.
Representation
The CAA has representation on a number of national committees including the Australian Health Protection Committee, National Rural Health Alliance and other National Committees particularly in the areas of Emergency Management and Clinical areas. This representation ensures the ambulance industry is brought to the attention of Federal ministers and department heads. The CAA is also represented on the International Round Table of Community Paramedicine which is an international group that specifically discusses rural issues and expanded role initiatives.