A lifelong passion for protecting and saving lives led Amanda Aislabie to the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter crew, joining the team as an Intensive Care Flight Paramedic.
With a background working on ambulances and rapid response vehicles she jumped at the opportunity to make her dream of becoming a flight paramedic a reality.
‘I have always been interested in working on helicopters and have completed Aeromedical Postgraduate studies. The opportunity came up to work with the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter, so I jumped at the chance to be a part of an awesome team providing medical care to the Taranaki community’.
Amanda’s career experience is extensive, and her love of lifesaving has always been apparent - beginning at just 14, when she joined her local surf lifesaving club. Even at a young age her ambitions and passion for the medical field were clear, so after finishing school it was an easy decision to jump into a Bachelor of Health Science in Paramedicine while also working for St John.
‘From there my career has been varied gaining a wealth of experience working on ambulances and rapid response vehicles both rurally and in metropolitan areas. I went on to become a registered nurse working in busy city Emergency Departments as well’.
Growing up in Auckland and previously living in Central Otago, Taranaki wasn’t always on the cards for the Amanda - but she didn’t hesitate to make the move, with her ‘furbaby’ Maverick, to pursue her dream career in the aeromedicine space.
Although New Plymouth is bigger than the Central Otago town she moved from, she values the close-knit community of her new home.
‘The community here is great, everyone has been very welcoming’.
Making the most of her new surroundings, Amanda is soaking up all the outdoor activities - she loves that there is always something to do in Taranaki with easy access to both the mountains and beach!
