Queensland ambulance exemption: do full-time students under 25 pay?
A person under 25 who was enrolled full-time at a Queensland educational institution may be exempt from a QAS invoice, with a letter requested to confirm age and full-time enrolment at the time of service.
According to the Queensland Government’s Queensland Ambulance Treatment and Transport page, not necessarily: if you were under 25 and enrolled full-time at a Queensland educational institution when the ambulance service occurred, you fall within a Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) exemption category and may be exempt from the invoice. The listed interstate category also applies, but it requires the person to be the child of someone whose principal place of residence is Queensland. The page requests an educational-institution letter confirming both age and full-time enrolment at the time of the ambulance service (checked 1 October 2026).
When do the student conditions apply?
The relevant point is your age and enrolment status when the ambulance service occurred, not simply your status today.
| Requirement | Status that must be established |
|---|---|
| Age | You were under 25 |
| Course status | You were enrolled full-time |
| Institution | The educational institution was in Queensland |
QAS asks for a letter from the educational institution confirming that you were under 25 and enrolled full-time at the time of the ambulance service.
Does the exemption cover interstate students?
The listed interstate category applies when all of these conditions are met:
| Condition | Evidence requested by QAS |
|---|---|
| You were under 25 and enrolled full-time at an educational institution in another state or territory | A letter from the educational institution confirming your age and full-time enrolment at the time of service |
| You are the child of a person whose principal place of residence is Queensland | Proof of the parent’s Queensland residency and proof that you are their son or daughter |
This is not a blanket exemption for every interstate student. The parent-and-child relationship is part of the listed interstate category.
How do I request the exemption?
- Check whether your age, enrolment status and institution location meet the relevant category.
- Ask your educational institution for a letter confirming that you were under 25 and enrolled full-time at the time of the ambulance service.
- For the interstate category, also obtain proof of the parent’s Queensland residency and the parent-child relationship.
- Submit the request and supporting evidence to QAS using any of these details:
- Post: Queensland Ambulance Service, c/- Queensland Shared Services, GPO Box 173, Brisbane QLD 4001
- Phone: (07) 5479 7200
- Email: mcy.debtadmin@chde.qld.gov.au
The listed exemption category does not by itself guarantee that the invoice will be waived; it gives QAS the basis on which to assess an exemption request.
What fees might apply if the exemption does not?
QAS operates under the Ambulance Service Act 1991. According to qld.gov.au, a person whose principal place of residence is not Queensland is responsible for paying a QAS invoice, with listed exemptions and other payment routes considered separately.
The page lists these fees per service:
| Service | from 1 July 2025 | from 1 July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency transport Code 1 and Code 2 (flat rate) | $1,508.64 | $1559.57 |
| Non-emergency transport Code 3 and Code 4 (flat rate) | $558.85 | $577.72 |
| Ambulance Treatment No Transport: Callout (flat rate) | $153.22 | $158.39 |
| Casualty Room Consultation | $25.76 | $26.63 |
These are individual fee-per-service entries, not a calculated total for a particular ambulance event. Medicare does not cover the cost of ambulance services in Queensland.
QAS also says there are no reciprocal arrangements with interstate ambulance services or for overseas visitors. The interstate student exemption is a listed exemption category and is separate from any reciprocal billing arrangement.
If payment is required, qld.gov.au publishes these QAS account details:
- Bank account name: Queensland Health – Queensland Ambulance Service
- BSB: 064-013
- Account number: 10000396
- SWIFT code for international payments: CTBAAU2S
What should I check through my insurer and Home Affairs?
If you held private health insurance with ambulance cover at the time of the service, QAS advises telling your insurer and checking the coverage. If the policy covers the ambulance service, QAS says to forward the invoice to the insurer for processing and payment.
For an OSHC or other private health policy, read the policy documents and ask the insurer if the wording is unclear. The student exemption concerns QAS billing and does not establish what your insurance policy covers.
International visitors should request a payment receipt if they intend to claim through applicable travel insurance. Check the policy documents for eligibility, and use the Department of Home Affairs page to confirm the rules for your particular visa.
What if I did not receive the service or dispute the invoice?
If you did not receive the ambulance service or want to dispute the invoice, contact QAS using the postal address, phone number or email listed in the exemption-request section above.
Sources
FAQ
Do all full-time students under 25 receive a QAS invoice exemption?
No. You must have been both under 25 and enrolled full-time at the time of the ambulance service, and the educational institution must have been in Queensland. The requested letter must confirm your age and enrolment status at that time.
Does the interstate category cover any student studying outside Queensland?
No. The listed interstate category also requires you to be the child of a person whose principal place of residence is Queensland. QAS requests evidence of that residency, the parent-child relationship and your student status.
What should the educational-institution letter confirm?
It should confirm that you were under 25 and enrolled full-time at the time of the ambulance service.
Will Medicare or my OSHC policy pay the QAS invoice?
Medicare does not cover ambulance services in Queensland. For private health or OSHC cover, check the policy documents and ask the insurer whether ambulance services were covered at the time.
Who receives an exemption request or invoice dispute?
Send the request or dispute to QAS at GPO Box 173, Brisbane QLD 4001, on (07) 5479 7200, or at mcy.debtadmin@chde.qld.gov.au.