Ambulance Victoria (AV) has welcomed 120 new recruits to its ranks ahead of schedule as part of the Government’s response to COVID-19.
In a statement, the Minister for Ambulance Services, Jenny Mikakos said the new paramedics had been brought forward from the next financial year.
Ambulance Victoria said that being recruited during a pandemic may be exceptional for some, but wasn’t exceptional to its newest paramedics.
“Some people change careers for a slower pace,” AV said.
“Some come to Ambulance Victoria to kick it up to the next level,” it said.
“The 120 new recruits who joined AV this week represent Victoria’s diverse community – of all ages, experiences and from all walks of life.”
It said they had left established careers and overcame obstacles to pursue their true passion: “serving the community with world-class health care at a world-class ambulance service.”
Ambulance Victoria said the new recruits each showed passion for helping others, continuous improvement, tenacity in the face of adversity and unswerving focus.
Ms Mikakos said the new recruits provided Ambulance Victoria with the resources it needed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and flu season.
She said the boost would also increase capacity in AV’s specialist areas including the secondary triage service, where expert nurses and paramedics assessed and provided advice to less serious cases.
