The first group of new Ambulance Victoria recruits for 2025/26 are hitting the road to help meet rising winter demand - including one in Cobram.

AV chief executive officer Jordan Emery recently welcomed 59 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 Emry 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.”

In the last financial year, AV met its target to recruit 229 new graduate and qualified paramedics.

The first intake of new graduate paramedics this financial year started on June 23 and will hit the road on July 21.

Three-quarters of the new paramedics are on their way to regional Victoria for their on-road training.

There will be 45 in regional Victoria, including one in Cobram, one in Numurkah, two in Yarrawonga and two in Shepparton.

Mr Emry said the health system was extremely busy as seasonal illness circulates within our communities.

“Demand on our crews is increasing, as usual, at this time of year and will likely remain heightened in the coming months as cases of the flu and other respiratory viruses stay high,” he said.

“We always plan ahead to meet extra winter demand – and that’s why we bring forward our first intake of new recruits for the financial year.

“As we hit the middle of winter, we also urge all Victorians to do their part to help reduce demand and ensure our highly skilled paramedics are available for the sickest patients.

“There are many options people can access when they need timely medical care and health advice but don’t need an emergency ambulance, including the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department and Urgent Care Centres.”

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.

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Wednesday, 16th August 2023

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