New ambos in bid to meet emergency service demand

By Adair Winder

Jul 31, 2022

Welcome addition: Three new paramedics will be recruited in Echuca this year. Photo by Megan Fisher

Three new paramedics will be recruited in Echuca this year in order to assist with the growing demand for ambulance services.

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Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas announced last Friday that Echuca is not the only town that will be receiving assistance.

More than 150 paramedics have already signed up to join crews in regional Victoria this year.

She said 34 new paramedics will be recruited in the Loddon/Bendigo/Mallee region, 24 additional paramedics will retain positions within the Grampians/Ballarat Region, and 50 new paramedics will be employed within the Hume/Central/Northern Region.

“These more than 150 new paramedics are a huge win for regional Victoria with every part of the state from Portland to Bairnsdale to Mildura set to benefit, and more to come,” Ms Thomas said.

The Victorian Government’s $35 million boost earlier this year fast-tracked the recruitment of 120 paramedics, who started in May.

As part of the Victorian Budget 2022/23, a further $124 million has been invested into putting more paramedics on the road.

Ambulance Victoria recruited 700 paramedics in 2021 — its single largest annual recruitment ever — and is on track to recruit the same number this year.

This will be critical in meeting increasing demand, with the organisation recently experiencing its busiest two quarters on record.

The government has increased paramedic ranks by more than 66 per cent since 2014 — an increase of almost 2200.