NSW Ambulance has been recognised for its programs to keep paramedics fit at the Council of Ambulance Authorities’ (CAA) Australasian Ambulance Awards for Excellence.
The Awards have been run by CAA for 15 years with the aim of recognising the hard and innovative work of member ambulance services from Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
NSW Ambulance won the Award for Excellence in Mental Health & Wellbeing for its Medic Fit Program, and was a finalist in the Excellence in Technology, Excellence in Clinical Practice and Excellence in Patient Care categories.
Congratulating its Health and Fitness team, NSW Ambulance said the Medic Fit program provided staff with easy access to quality exercise equipment so they could undertake low-intensity and functional exercises in the workplace.
Manager of Health and Fitness at NSW Ambulance, Nam Le said that what made the program unique was the internal support available to paramedics from the Health and Fitness team, including health coaches and injury prevention specialists.
“Along with the exercise equipment, Medic Fit also includes tailored resources – such as a Medic Fit program guide and an online exercise library – and a NSW Ambulance injury prevention program to support staff in safe use of the exercise equipment,” Mr Le said.
“The program has since been rolled out to over 240 worksites across NSW Ambulance,” he said.
“It was certainly nice to be recognised for the hard work the team and I have put in to deliver the program for NSW Ambulance.”
Mr Le said over 1,600 employees had completed the Medic Fit program induction and his team received regular emails and feedback from staff who were very appreciative to have the equipment available.
“Medic Fit has had a particularly significant impact at regional stations,” he said.
“You can imagine some of these stations are quite isolated, with their nearest fitness facility or gym sometimes over 100km away.”
After winning the award, Mr Le thanked NSW Ambulance’s Executive Leadership Team for supporting the program’s implementation.
Most importantly, he thanked his Health and Fitness team members, Richard High, Chloe Larcombe, Claire Hately, Emma Ugarte, and Megan Kingham.
The full list of CAA Award winners can be accessed at this PS News link.
