Jeremy Rockliff,Minister for Health
Ambulance Tasmania has successfully recruited 24 additional paramedics, to be stationed across Launceston and Hobart.
The new recruits include a mix of graduate paramedics who have already completed their induction program, and experienced external candidates who will begin their induction with Ambulance Tasmania next week.
Importantly, this will mean new crews from Hobart and Launceston will be hitting the road in December, providing support to the dedicated staff and volunteers already working in those communities.
The 2021-22 Tasmanian Budget includes funding for an additional 48 paramedics across the State, which includes the 24 paramedics we've successfully recruited to Hobart and Launceston, as well as 24 to be posted to regional areas, including Sheffield, Dodges Ferry, Campbell Town, New Norfolk, St Helens, West Coast, North-East, Swansea, Miena and Bruny Island.
In line with this commitment, we have also already recruited additional paramedics to Sheffield and Dodges Ferry.
The additional 48 paramedics is on top of the 170 full-time equivalent paramedics and dispatch officers we have recruited since coming to Government in 2014.
Ambulance Tasmania paramedics, volunteers and other staff do incredible work every day in our community, and we know they are doing so in the face of increasing demand across our health system.
In 2020-21, the total number of ambulance responses was 101,800, which was an increase of more than 8,000 from the previous year, and more than 12,000 more responses than in 2018-19.
That is why we are continuing to prioritise health, with $10.7 billion over the forward estimates, which is $900 million more than last year's Budget.
As we move closer to our reopening plan to reconnect Tasmania on December 15, this is an important part of preparing our health system.
Every additional resource will help us meet demand when COVID-19 arrives in Tasmania – this includes additional beds and hospital staff, as well as more paramedics across the State.
