Twenty-eight years ago, Lisa Deck ASM began her career with the ACT Ambulance Service as a student paramedic.  

Now, she is preparing for retirement as an intensive care paramedic, having spent most of her career in the frontline role.  

She has worked as a training and development officer within the ACT Ambulance Service, and has played a key role in the development and implementation of a new roster system to improve the welfare outcomes for paramedics.  

For her service, Lisa Deck was awarded the Ambulance Service Medal in The King’s Birthday 2025 Honours list.  

“I have been fortunate to have a job which allows me to go to work and make a positive impact on someone’s day. I can’t always ‘fix’ the problem, but I can nearly always make it at least a little bit better,” she says.  

“Every day is different. There is no doubt some days have been really hard. Fortunately, these days are not the majority, and the good days outweigh the difficult ones.”

Lisa says she wasn’t expecting the recognition, and she never went about her work expecting anything like this.  

“I was surprised by the award. It is not what motivates me to do this job,” she says.  

“I consider myself a quiet achiever, so centre stage is not my preferred position … it is however an honour to have been nominated and awarded in this way, especially as I reach the end of my career.”