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significant resource to handle [mental health patients] … because I don’t know what else is there that is available. [T6, p. 11] Another participant nurse said: It always helps if there’s a [GP] in the community, if someone is really unwell mentally. [T5, p. 23] 7.2.6 Paramedics and ambulance officers Paramedics and ambulance officers are rarely permanently located in remote communities. The majority of contact with remote nurses is pursuant to a mental healthcare crisis presentation. There are two types or reasons for contact. First is where the mental health patient requires evacuation out of the community for admission to a mental healthcare facility or hospital. Such evacuations are usually done by aircraft and therefore involve the RFDS. Paramedics in such situations are in the employ of RFDS, and are an integral aspect of ensuring proper and safe evacuation of mental health patients. The second type of contact is where paramedics and ambulance officers are stationed in communities. These circumstances are usually confined to larger remote communities and transport patients to hospitals which can admit mental health patients. Depending on work location, paramedics and ambulance officers were identified as a valuable resource in delivering mental healthcare. Through their training and certification, paramedics and ambulance officers have advanced knowledge and prescription rights, including medications for mental health patients: I have a level of authority granted … that is actually compared to the nurses quite wide open. I’m trained in a number of protocols and guidelines that I can instigate myself. [T23, p19]