April 2008

Paramedics on board in record numbers

This year will see the biggest intake of new paramedics into Victoria’s Metropolitan Ambulance Service.

Welcoming the newest batch to the fold, Health Minister Daniel Andrews said a record number of 178 paramedics in this year’s recruitment group would result in the largest number of operational ambulance paramedics in Victoria’s history.

‘This will see total metropolitan ambulance paramedics numbers break the 1,300 barrier for the first time.

‘It is also the first recruitment group where the intake has a higher percentage of female recruits with 58 per cent being women.’

The new intake will account for more than 10 per cent of the metropolitan paramedic workforce and represents more than $11 million of yearly expenditure in recruitment, salary and training.

‘Victoria’s ambulance services are the best in Australia thanks to the work of our paramedics and funding to MAS, which has more than doubled since 1999.

‘This has seen more than 660 extra paramedics begin work with MAS since 1999, our paramedics providing care to more than 800 Victorians every day in Metropolitan Melbourne alone.

‘The record support provided by the Government to our ambulances services means our paramedics are able to treat more patients than ever before.

‘The deployment of these new paramedics recognises the importance of having people on the ground and delivering services to local communities and ensures Victorians continue to receive first-class care.

‘It also gives the existing workforce further support so paramedics can continue to provide the exceptional pre-hospital care Victorians have come to rely on,’ he said.