Leading the nation in cardiac arrest survival, Victorians can boast that their paramedics are among the best in the world.
Whether in the city, bush, snow or at sea, Ambulance Victoria’s range of highly skilled paramedics are equipped to respond to all emergencies, providing world-leading out of hospital emergency care to those who need it.
Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedics form the backbone of Ambulance Victoria’s clinical response, delivering emergency and community-based healthcare across the state. They work alongside specialist Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedics who provide advanced critical care for patients experiencing major trauma, cardiac arrest, heart attacks and other life-threatening medical emergencies.
Air Ambulance Victoria’s fleet of helicopters and fixed-wing planes extend this care across the state through specialist ALS and MICA Flight paramedics who are trained to perform retrievals in the most remote and hard to reach locations, so patients in regional and remote areas can access high-quality critical care regardless of location.
Ambulance Victoria’s broader paramedic workforce also includes specialist communications, wilderness, motorcycle and bicycle paramedics, along with clinical leaders, educators, researchers and managers who support safe, evidence-based patient care.
This Thank a Paramedic Day (24 July), Ambulance Victoria is recognising all the hardworking paramedics across our state who demonstrate extraordinary skill, compassion and resilience each day.
“From metropolitan Melbourne to regional and rural communities, Ambulance Victoria has a workforce of nearly 6000 dedicated and passionate paramedics,” Ambulance Victoria Director Paramedicine A/Prof Ben Meadley said.
“Whether responding to life-threatening emergencies, caring for critically ill and injured patients, or helping people navigate complex health needs, our paramedics play a vital role in the Victorian health system.
“Our paramedics choose this career because they want to make a difference in their communities and care for people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
“While we never expect to be thanked for the job we do, days like Thank a Paramedic Day are a wonderful opportunity to connect with the community we serve.”
Thank a Paramedic Day is an annual event in Victoria to acknowledge and appreciate the dedication and service of paramedics across the state and the crucial role they play in providing pre-hospital emergency healthcare.
Victorians wanting to show their support this Thank a Paramedic Day can make a donation to their local Ambulance Victoria Auxiliary or via the Ambulance Victoria website.
Victorians have been showing their support for our paramedics for decades, through a network of more than 40 Ambulance Victoria Auxiliaries who work tirelessly to support their local paramedics and ambulance branches.
From the first auxiliary in Maryborough, which began in 1918 and is still going strong, to our more recent auxiliaries through Gippsland, Grampians, Hume, Loddon Mallee and the Metropolitan region – seeing the gratitude of our community through their volunteer efforts and community donations not only contributes to improved community care, but sends a great message of thanks to our frontline clinical workforce.
Every contribution, big or small, goes towards investing in advanced training tools, specialised equipment and resources which help Ambulance Victoria’s paramedics and first responders provide Best Care to communities – and continue to give Victorians access to one of the best ambulance services in the world.
