The Andrews Labor Government is ensuring our paramedics are getting the best training with a new dedicated capability hub at Victoria University in Sunshine delivered, which will also be the home of the new Centre for Paramedicine.
Minister for Ambulance Services Gabrielle Williams today opened the Australian-first capability hub and met some of the 54 newly graduated paramedics who will train at the hub, before heading out on the road to give Victorians the care they need.
The new hub is a purpose-built facility with training spaces that will support the ongoing skills development of paramedics across the state, it will be open seven days a week and is a joint venture between Ambulance Victoria and Victoria University.
The hub will be the central administration point for the delivery of all operational education and training needs, providing our paramedics with access to the latest learning technology including virtual reality, simulation training and experience better facilitation of online learning.
Graduate and qualified paramedic induction programs will be run out of the hub. It will also assist qualified paramedics in completing their 40 hours of required professional development each year.
Of the 54 graduates starting their AV careers, 29 will be based in metropolitan Melbourne and 25 will go to regional Victoria, spread out in the Gippsland, Loddon Mallee, Grampians, and Hume regions.
The Victorian Budget 2023/24 also delivered $10 million to build a new Centre for Paramedicine at Victoria University.
The Centre will focus on training the next generation of paramedics, providing advanced teaching methods - with the capacity to train around 1,500 paramedic students each year.
This year's budget provides more than $277 million to recruit more paramedics, deliver better training and support innovative models of care.
With more than 1,300 paramedics recruited over the past two years, the capability hub and Centre for Paramedicine will help to support the current and future generations of paramedics to respond to the ever-increasing demand for emergency healthcare services.
As stated by Minister for Ambulance Services Gabrielle Williams
"We will always back our paramedics - with more recruits and the best training facilities, so they can give Victorians the best possible care."
As stated by Member for St Albans Natalie Suleyman
"We've delivered the new capability hub at VU and now we'll build on that by delivering Australia's first Centre for Paramedicine."
As stated by Victoria University Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker
"Victoria University (VU) graduates have a long and proud history of providing invaluable services to the community as midwives, nurses, aged-care assistants, patient transport officers and paramedics. Now, thanks to a shared vision, this is coming together in a whole new way. Australia's first Centre of Excellence in Paramedicine - co-designed with Ambulance Victoria - will enable us both to develop world-leading skills when they are needed most".
As stated by Ambulance Victoria Chief Executive Jane Miller
"Our paramedics and first responders are our greatest assets. In a first for AV, this state-of-the-art training base gives our paramedics the modern facilities they need to keep developing their world class life-saving skills, and our graduates the best start to a long and rewarding career caring for the Victorian community."
