Ambulance Wish Queensland: Fulfilling Last Wishes and Creating Forever Memories

Ambulance Wish Queensland is a deeply compassionate program helping Queenslanders living with life-limiting illness fulfil meaningful final wishes. As a signature program of Palliative Care Queensland, it provides the specialist transport, clinical care, planning and coordination needed to make these wishes possible — creating lasting memories not only for patients, but also for the people who love them.

The program was inspired by two Hervey Bay paramedics who helped a patient visit her favourite beach for one last time. That simple, powerful act of kindness became the inspiration for the first program of its kind in Australia, now supported by the Queensland Government and Queensland Ambulance Service.

Ambulance Wish Queensland uses decommissioned, purpose-adapted ambulances donated by the Queensland Ambulance Service. These vehicles allow trained teams to safely transport wish recipients while providing the clinical support they need throughout the experience.

Wishes with personal meaning

When it comes to a wish, the focus is always on what matters most to the individual. For some people, that might mean feeling the ocean breeze again, visiting a favourite beach, going home to see their pets, or spending time with family at a special event. For others, it could be a day at Australia Zoo, a Brisbane Broncos training session, a picnic by the water, or a day out at the races with friends.

These experiences may seem simple, but for a person nearing the end of life, they can be incredibly significant. Ambulance Wish Queensland is about dignity, connection and giving people the opportunity to make one more meaningful memory with the people and places they cherish.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible, a person generally needs to be a current patient of one of Ambulance Wish Queensland’s partner palliative care services. They may be living at home, in hospital, in a hospice or in a care facility, provided they are within 150 kilometres of an Ambulance Wish Queensland hub. The wish destination also needs to be within that distance.

Wish recipients must have a terminal diagnosis, a life expectancy of less than 12 months, and require significant assistance with mobility. They also need to be able to give consent, and the wish itself must be simple, low-risk and achievable for the team to carry out safely.

How the community can help

Ambulance Wish Queensland relies significantly on donations, sponsorships, fundraising and volunteers to continue granting wishes across the state. All Ambulance Wishes are free for recipients, which means community support plays an important role in helping the program reach more Queenslanders.

Anyone wanting to support the program can visit the Ambulance Wish Queensland website here: https://ambulancewishqld.org.au/ to volunteer, sponsor or donate. The website also shares stories of wishes that have already been granted, offering a moving insight into the impact the program has on patients, families and communities.

For those hoping to organise a wish, the best place to start is by visiting the Ambulance Wish Queensland website or speaking with the person’s palliative care provider.

A service built on compassion

At its heart, Ambulance Wish Queensland is about more than fulfilling a final wish. It is about honouring a person’s life, supporting families through a meaningful experience, and creating memories that loved ones can hold onto forever. It is a remarkable service built on compassion, community and the belief that even small moments can mean everything.

You can also listen to Luke’s interview with 104.9 Sunshine FM’s host Chris Wordsworth about Ambulance Wish Queensland now on YouTube.