Dr Napthine was greeted by protesters angry about cuts to the CFA and the uncertainty surrounding the Sandhurst Centre in Bendigo on Friday.

The protest involved a small number of ambulance workers, and Dr Napthine said paramedics should sign up to the government’s offer.

The Premier would not say when staff at the Sandhurst Centre would learn about the future of their jobs after the centre closes mid-2016.

“Over many, many years it’s been shown that moving people from institutions to family group homes provides a better quality of life of the people who (have) an intellectual disability,” he said.

“Many of the staff currently working at Sandhust will have opportunities to move into jobs in those community residential units.”

Dr Napthine said the process would create jobs but opposition members Jacinta Allan and Maree Edwards said staff were in the dark.

“It’s understandable that staff and family members of residents are very worried about their future,” Ms Allan said.