- Published:
- Sunday 25 February 2018
Nearly 100 paramedics are ready to hit the road and help save lives and give Victorians the treatment they deserve.
Minister for Ambulance Services Jill Hennessy today joined Ambulance Victoria’s latest batch of graduate paramedics at a ceremony at Etihad Stadium.
A total of 98 paramedics have now completed their 12-month Ambulance Victoria Graduate Ambulance Paramedic program – a flagship course designed to support paramedics to transition from university to the workforce.
The latest batch of graduates also includes six new MICA paramedics who have completed specialised intensive care training.
The graduating class includes 54 women and 44 men, proving once more Ambulance Victoria sets the benchmark for diversity and gender equality.
The Andrews Labor Government is taking action to ensure more rural and regional parts of Victoria have world-class access to an ambulance when emergency strikes.
The new paramedics are now deployed in the areas they’re needed most. Some 32 new paramedics are based in Melbourne’s east, while 37 are stationed in Melbourne’s west.
In regional Victoria, three paramedics will be based in the Loddon region, four in the Hume region, three in the Barwon region, three in the Gippsland region and three in the Grampians region.
After completing the Graduate Ambulance Paramedic Program, paramedics continue training throughout their careers to ensure they’re equipped with the latest up-to-date lifesaving interventions.
The Labor Government is repairing Victoria’s ambulance system after years of neglect by the Liberals who went to war with our paramedics.
Our $500 million plan will improve ambulance response times, employ 450 more paramedics, buy new vehicles and build more stations across Victoria where they’re needed most.
The latest performance data shows 81.4 per cent of Code 1 ambulances are arriving within 15 minutes of call-out, compared with 76 per cent a year earlier and miles ahead of the 73.7 per cent when the Liberals were last in Government.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy
“We’re getting more paramedics on the road, and giving them the state-of-the-art facilities and equipment they need to protect the community.”
“We’re so proud of the work our paramedics do each and every day, saving the lives of all Victorians.”
“I wish all graduate paramedics long and rewarding careers making a real difference to the lives of Victorian families.”