The third group of new Ambulance Victoria (AV) recruits for 2025/26 are about to hit the road but first are fine-tuning their driving skills to stay safe.
AV Director Operational Capability Matthew Cannon welcomed the 30 new graduate ambulance paramedics who are starting their careers with AV.
"Working as a paramedic is an extraordinarily unique experience. Very few jobs will have such a profound and deep impact on peoples' lives," Mr Cannon said.
"Our paramedics, first responders, volunteers and support staff are our greatest strength. It is through them that we lead the way in patient care, including the nation's best cardiac arrest survival rates.
"We now have more than 5,500 on-road paramedics delivering the very best life-saving care, everywhere, and it's great to see more joining our ranks."
Last financial year, AV met its target to recruit 229 new graduate and qualified paramedics, and so far this financial year 147 new recruits have started with AV.
The third intake of new graduate paramedics this financial year started on 18 August 2025 and will hit the road on 15 September 2025.
For their on-road training:
- 16 graduates will be placed in metropolitan Melbourne (located at branches in Sunshine, Super Response Centre (SCR) North (Campbellfield), Epping, Mernda, Broadmeadows, Moonee Ponds, Nunawading, Ringwood, Belgrave, Bulleen, Healesville, Lilydale, Montrose, Emerald, Rosebud and Dandenong.
- 14 will be placed in regional Victoria, including:
- 3 in the Gippsland Region (Korumburra, Wonthaggi, Bairnsdale)
- 5 in the Hume Region (Numurkah, Shepparton, Wangaratta (2) and Wodonga)
- 6 in the Loddon Mallee Region (Bendigo, Kangaroo Flat, Irymple, Mildura, Swan Hill (2))
Having completed their university degree, all new graduates start at AV with a comprehensive four-week induction and training program, giving them the 'real world' skills they need to hit the road alongside experienced paramedics.
During this induction, recruits learn vital skills such as safely moving and loading patients to prevent injuries and safely driving ambulance vehicles.
Mr Cannon said for many of our young graduates, this will be their first time driving an ambulance - and a big step up from their first small car.
"At AV, we have a team of expert driver trainers that teach our graduates how to safely operate and drive an ambulance, whether in small city streets or out on the open road in the country," Mr Cannon said.
"They learn the art of high-level manoeuvring, parking an ambulance in hospital bays, estimating gaps, reversing and parallel parking in confined spaces.
"There is also specialist training on accurately perceiving driving hazards, driving smoothly and navigating and managing traffic delays."
Mr Cannon said Victoria has remained a leader in paramedic education since the introduction of Australia's first ambulance officers training course in 1961.
"Ambulance Victoria has some of the most highly trained and skilled paramedics in the world," Mr Cannon said.
"These graduates will continue training and development throughout their entire careers to ensure patients receive the very best, and most up-to-date life-saving care - and stay safe while they are doing so.
"I truly wish them all the best for long and rewarding careers at Ambulance Victoria.
"We are fortunate to attract outstanding applicants from across Victoria and abroad who are eager to join Ambulance Victoria. We select recruits through a highly competitive recruitment process."
