The Andrews Labor Government's massive paramedic recruitment drive has continued throughout 2022, with an additional 631 new starters joining Ambulance Victoria's ranks.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Ambulance Services Gabrielle Williams today welcomed the final batch of recruits for 2022, who will soon start working with Ambulance Victoria and saving lives across the state.
Throughout this year, recruits have joined branches across Victoria - including 239 in regional Victoria and 392 across Melbourne, with women making up about 65 per cent of new recruits.
This batch of recruits began a four-week induction program on Monday, giving them the practical skills they need before they hit the road. They will be Medium Acuity Transport Services (MATS) paramedics and start in January at Traralgon, Wendouree, Shepparton and Eaglehawk.
MATS crews are dedicated for non-urgent calls, freeing up ambulances to respond to the most critical cases. Providing care for Code 2 and 3 patients, MATS teams are making a real difference ensuring less-urgent calls get high expertise and care while reducing workload pressures being experienced by paramedics.
During their induction, graduate paramedics learn vital skills such as how to safely move and load patients to prevent injuries, respond to incidents of violence and driving ambulance vehicles to 'lights and sirens' cases.
Graduate paramedics become fully qualified over the course of the year. After completing the Graduate Ambulance Paramedic (GAP) program, paramedics continue professional development and education for their entire careers.
In addition, 30 Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedics have joined ranks this year including paramedics from New Zealand and Canada.
The Labor Government has expanded the paramedic workforce by more than 56 per cent since 2014 - an increase of more than 2,200 paramedics. Ambulance Victoria recruited 700 paramedics in 2021 - its single largest annual recruitment ever.
But there is always more to do - and the re-elected Labor Government will establish the role of Paramedic Practitioners, recruit 40 additional MICA paramedics, create an Australian-first Centre for Paramedicine and review the existing arrangements for patient transport ambulances.
As stated by Premier Daniel Andrews
"We'll keep delivering the resources and infrastructure our paramedics need, so they can keep delivering the best possible care to Victorians."
"On top of recruiting more paramedics, we'll keep working in partnership with the workforce to deliver innovative and new ways to provide care as our ambos record demand."
As stated by Minister for Ambulance Services Gabrielle Williams
"Victoria has now recruited more than 1300 paramedics over the past two years to ensure that all Victorians can continue to get the lifesaving care they need, when they need it."
