- Published:
- Wednesday 23 September 2015
Minister for Ambulance Services Jill Hennessy tonight congratulated Ambulance Victoria’s newest paramedics at a graduation ceremony at the Arts Centre.
More than 250 new paramedics have completed Ambulance Victoria’s Graduate Ambulance Paramedics program this year, which supports paramedics to transition from university to the workforce.
This year’s graduates include 235 Advanced Life Support Paramedics, 21 Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedics, two MICA flight paramedics, and one paramedic from the Rural Sponsored Degree program.
About 53 per cent of this year’s graduates are women.
These new paramedics will be based in towns and suburbs across Victoria where growing demand for emergency care is the greatest – 187 paramedics will be deployed to metropolitan ambulance branches, and 72 to stations in regional Victoria.
Graduate Ambulance Paramedics initially work under supervision of clinical instructors to assist with the transition from the classroom to the ‘real world’, and integrate into day-to-day team responsibilities and activities.
After completing the Graduate Ambulance Paramedic program, paramedics continue training for their entire careers. This continued professional development ensures Ambulance Victoria paramedics are able to provide the most up-to-date life-saving interventions and stay safe while they are doing so.
The Andrews Labor Government is committed to giving Victoria’s hardworking paramedics the respect and recognition they deserve, and supporting them to do what they do best, which is saving lives.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Ambulance Services Jill Hennessy
“The Andrews Labor Government is extremely proud of the work our paramedics do each and every day saving lives and treating Victorians.”
“I wish all graduate paramedics long and rewarding careers making a real difference in lives of Victorians.”
“Our paramedic workforce is a modern and diverse one, just like our community. It’s great to see 53 per cent of this year’s graduates are women.”