A temporary ambulance site has opened at Unanderra, to support NSW Ambulance staff on the road in the Illawarra region and enhance emergency and mobile care for the Wollongong community.
Thirteen paramedics will work out of the temporary site at Unanderra while planning is underway for new ambulance stations at Unanderra and Warilla, expected to be completed in the next two to three years.
NSW Ambulance often utilises temporary facilities to create additional capacity while construction of a new ambulance station or a major refurbishment of a station is underway.
The temporary site, which opened on 7 June, is located at Doyle Avenue in Unanderra, and includes a lounge area, offices, kitchen and dining, amenities and locker room facilities for staff, a communications room and ambulance parking bays.
The temporary site will support existing NSW ambulance stations servicing the region in Dapto, Warrawong and Wollongong.
The NSW Government's $615.5 million NSW Ambulance Infrastructure Program is boosting frontline emergency care with 30 additional ambulance stations and supporting infrastructure across Sydney, the Central Coast, Newcastle, the Hunter and Wollongong. This includes new ambulance stations for the communities of the Illawarra region at Warilla and Unanderra.
As part of the $1.76 billion Strategic Workforce and Infrastructure Team (SWIFT) program, the Illawarra Zone has received a boost of 66 additional paramedics.
The SWIFT program is delivering 2,500 additional NSW Ambulance staff including 500 paramedics to rural and regional areas, to boost emergency and mobile healthcare for our metropolitan and regional communities.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Ryan Park:
"The NSW Government is continuing its investment into frontline emergency health care for the Illawarra area with more paramedics on the road, as well as new ambulance stations.
"This temporary NSW Ambulance site at Unanderra will further enhance care for the Wollongong community, providing a place for paramedics to start and finish their shifts while work is underway to develop new ambulance stations across the Illawarra."
Quotes attributable to Member for Wollongong Paul Scully:
"This is an important investment in emergency health care to support Wollongong and the broader Illawarra's growing community.
"The temporary station will provide vital transition support helping host the additional paramedics while new stations in Unanderra and Warilla are delivered.
"This is another boost to local ambulance services which were expanded with the opening of the new Fairy Meadow station last year."
Quotes attributable to NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan:
"This temporary facility at Unanderra will further support our local paramedics as our new ambulance stations for the area are constructed, by reducing crowding and improving amenity.
"Over recent years the Government has invested in additional paramedics for the region and this new temporary location will assist us to deliver optimal health outcomes for communities right across the Illawarra region."
