Staff spotlight – Brian Hughes

Introduction

We caught up with Brian at home in the Glasshouse Mountains on his two weeks break after just completing three week on site. This was his first day off but he is now preparing for the Supervisor conference starting tomorrow.

You may be familiar with Brian as we reported a case he managed where the treating surgeon told us that Brian’s excellent clinical work saved the patient’s index finger.

What is your professional background?

I initially joined the Armed Forces in the UK, then worked in the security industry which I continued to do when I came to

Australia, I believe I was one of the very first employees in CPA back in 1997. I joined the QAS 20 years ago and have held many frontline supervisory positions like Operations Supervisor, Officer in Charge and Clinical Deployment Supervisor.

My wife and I met on our first day at paramedic school with QAS, she is currently a High Acuity Response Unit and flight paramedic with QAS and is basically my hero.

I joined the private sector 2 years ago with Corporate Protection after an in depth discussion with with Harley where he outlined his vision of the future.

As a rescue paramedic, I have a full suite of rescue qualifications and I also hold a security licence.

Where are you working now?

I work at a mine in remote northern QLD at Weipa. I have been working there for 3 months, it is a fairly new contract.

What other Corporate Protection sites have you worked?

Previously I was working for Corporate Protection at a coal mine in Blackwater, QLD, a power station at Biloela then at rail hubs in the Galilee Basin as a rescue paramedic and security supervisor.

What are your primary responsibilities?

First and foremost is the health and well being for the 400 employees and contractors at my site whos’ numbers increase to 600 during shutdown.

What do you find most challenging or fulfilling in your role?

I like the challenge of remote work and this site is as remote as it gets. For the majority of my career I was getting high volumes of work and a higher acuity workload in metropolitan areas with shorter patient care times and now I have protracted patient care times and predominantly primary health care cases which I come to enjoy.

And what do you do in your spare time?

Spending time with my wife and our animals – dog and chickens.

My 19 year old daughter has just won state and national bodybuilder titles.

But when I have me time I turn wood on my lathe, do 3D printing and design as well as off shore kayak fishing.

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What would your manager say?

My manager Tyler would say nothing but nice things about me! Tyles was a student of mine during her QAS days. I think Tyler would say I am an adaptable ‘set and forget’ paramedic. Tyler is both a great manager and a great person.

 

Manager comment

Correct, I was one of Brian’s students while I was at Uni about 15yrs ago in QAS – all my bad habits are Brian’s fault!

Seriously, Brian has always been professional and with exceptional advanced clinical knowledge. He interacts well with everyone from workers, clients, allied health professionals and now in his current role, with the Elders.

Brian always provides the highest of clinical care to all patients no matter if it is advice only or an RFDS retrieval as well as always looking for innovative ways to improve our delivery of services and trialling new equipment for us on site.

At his current site, they have a runway for RFDS due to the remoteness. Until earlier this month, it had never been used since operations commenced almost 10yrs ago. Faced with a suspected spinal injury, Brian set to work to be able to use the runway for its intended purpose. This was a successful outcome for both the patient and the client.

Brian is an asset to CP, his co-workers, site-based workers and the client. The support Brian offers with mentoring our newer Paramedics is another testament to his passion and enthusiasm in his role.