Widely regarded as one of Ambulance Victoria’s most respected clinical leaders, Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedic Grant Hocking ASM has dedicated his career to improving patient outcomes and raising standards across the profession.

For 40 years, Grant has been at the forefront of patient care, clinical innovation and paramedic education, helping transform the way Victorians receive emergency medical treatment.

His legacy extends far beyond the countless patients he has treated in his four decades of dedicated service. His impact can be seen in the changes to clinical procedures and guidelines as well as the generations of paramedics whose practice he has helped shape.

Among his most significant achievements is his pioneering work in stroke care. For more than 15 years, Grant has led efforts to improve pre-hospital assessment and treatment of stroke patients, including developing Ambulance Victoria’s first stroke management guidelines.

His contributions have earned recognition at the highest levels, including the Ambulance Service Medal in 2014, one of Australia’s most prestigious honours for members of an ambulance service, and the inaugural Stroke Foundation President’s Achievement Award in 2018.

His passion for the field was deeply personal.

“My father had a stroke about 18 years ago and died as a result. That motivated my interest in how we could improve stroke assessment and treatment,” Grant said.

“I’m very happy with the work I’ve done so far and continue to find it worthwhile as stroke is still one of the leading causes of death in Australia.”

Grant has also driven major advances to clinical work instructions, research initiatives and pre-hospital notification tools that continue to improve stroke patient care across Victoria.

It’s a trajectory he never would have imagined for his career when he decided to “give ambulance a go” as a 22-year-old.

Without realising it at first, Grant had been set on a path to paramedicine as a teenager, after an experience at an ice-skating rink where another skater collapsed in the venue, their heart stopped in cardiac arrest.

“I had done cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training, so I immediately went over to help and gave CPR until the ambulance arrived. That experience certainly sparked an interest for me,” he said.

A few years later, Grant was training to become a nurse when a colleague suggested he consider applying to become an ambulance officer.

Grant was one of the youngest student ambulance officers in his intake, embarking on a journey that would take him to some of Ambulance Victoria’s most senior clinical leadership positions.

Over the years, he worked across Victoria, particularly in Metropolitan Melbourne and the Grampians region, qualified as a MICA paramedic and became a Clinical Support Officer (CSO) – a role reserved for Ambulance Victoria’s most experienced and highly skilled MICA paramedics.

He had a passion for education, mentoring and training, something he’d discovered early in his career during time teaching at the old Ambulance Officers Training Centre.

“Proper training and education sets paramedics up for a great career,” Grant said.

“If people are struggling with something and you can help them learn and work it out, I find that really rewarding.”

As Ambulance Victoria’s Grampians Regional Improvement Lead, Grant continues to influence clinical practice and patient care.

He also makes an impact in the broader emergency services sector, with 22 years’ involvement with Rotary including as the current chair of the Victorian Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards (Vic RESCA).

Reflecting on his 40-year career, he said the milestone was one he is immensely proud to reach.

“Most people don’t reach this milestone so I’m quite proud and happy that I’ve made it this far, and that I’ve been an active participant in shaping parts of the ambulance service over that time,” he said.

“It is a wonderful job and a great career. I’ve been very happy for the last 40 years.”

Despite the awards, milestones and achievements, Grant says his greatest source of pride remains the people beside him.

“Nothing is achievable on your own and I’ve had so much help and support throughout my career,” he said.

“I enjoy going to work because of the people I work with.”