The world-class care provided by NSW Ambulance is today being recognised, as the service celebrates its 130th anniversary.
The ceremony held at the NSW Ambulance State Operations Centre in Sydney Olympic Park, included a rescue demonstration by the Special Operations Unit paramedics, a display of vintage ambulances and the launch of a permanent timeline exhibition that showcases key moments in NSW Ambulance history.
Temora Ambulance Museum provided the vehicles and other historic artifacts for the milestone event that was hosted by the Chief Executive of NSW Ambulance, Dr Dominic Morgan and attended by more than 100 staff as well as NSW Ambulance Legacy members.
Originally known as the Civil Ambulance and Transport Brigade, the first recognised ambulance service in NSW commenced operations in April 1895.
The first ambulance station was located in a borrowed police station in Railway Square, Sydney and two permanent officers transported patients on hand-held stretchers and handlitters - wooden structures that resembled large wheelbarrows.
In 1899, the Brigade upgraded their mode of transportation to a horsedrawn ambulance, shortly followed by a bicycle ambulance. The first motor vehicle ambulance was donated to the Brigade by the public in 1912.
Today, NSW Ambulance receives more than 1.2 million Triple Zero (000) calls each year and has more than 7,500 staff, including paramedics, control centre staff, corporate and support staff, doctors, nurses as well as clinical volunteers and chaplains.
With more than 1,800 vehicles in the NSW Ambulance fleet, staff travel approximately 55 million kilometres by road in a year. The service also has specialised snow vehicles, 12 helicopters and 6 fixed wing aircraft to access patients in remote areas.
In the past 12 months, NSW Ambulance has added 8 Hazardous Area Rescue Ambulances (HARAs) and 8 Inflatable Rescue Boats (IRBs) to significantly boost response capabilities during floods and natural disasters.
For more information on the history of NSW Ambulance visit: https://www.ambulance.nsw.gov.au/about-us/history
Quotes attributable to Premier Chris Minns:
"Paramedics are amongst our most trusted professions, helping people when they are at their worst and providing care for people in extraordinarily difficult situations.
"I am delighted to mark this incredible milestone and want to say a sincere thank you to all NSW Ambulance staff for their bravery and care for people of NSW."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
"It's a pleasure to join NSW Ambulance staff today to celebrate how far the service has come since its humble beginning in 1895.
"Celebrating this milestone anniversary is an opportunity to look back and acknowledge the important history that has brought us to where we are today and celebrate the remarkable progress of NSW Ambulance.
"When people call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance, they are often scared and experiencing the worst day of their lives and I'd like to thank NSW Ambulance staff for the exceptional care they provide patients and their families in their time of need."
Quotes attributable to NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan:
"We are all incredibly proud of the service that NSW Ambulance has become, including the advancements in emergency medical interventions that ensure our staff can provide the best possible care to patients.
"Our staff are dedicated, highly trained clinicians who are committed to continuing the traditions of excellence in out of-hospital care."
