How do ambulance services work in Australia?

Ambulance services in Australia are run at a state and territory level, which means the way they operate varies depending on where you live. 

Whether or not you have to pay for treatment by paramedics or transport by ambulance also depends on where you live.

In QLD and TAS, ambulance services are free for residents of those states.

Other states and territories operate on a ‘user pays’ system:

• ACT
• NSW
• NT
• SA
• VIC
• WA.

If you live in one of these states or territories, you have to pay for ambulance services (unless you fall into one of the exceptions). You may want to consider taking out Ambulance Cover.