Rochester and Inglewood ambulance stations will have two fully trained paramedics in their ambulances under a $109 million package pledged by Labor Premier Daniel Andrews, should his government be re-elected.
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The Rochester community in particular, alongside Ambulance Employees Australia’s Victoria branch, has campaigned for two paramedics in crews instead of one, because of concerns about response times, work complexity and the well-being of staff.
Currently, a paramedic will attend jobs with a volunteer ambulance community officer, who is a trained member of the public.
There are 51 stations that operate under such a system, and the union wants all to have two-officer crewing. Labor has announced 15 stations will have two-paramedic crews.
Campaspe Shire councillor for Rochester ward, Leigh Wilson, said he welcomed the news. “I suppose it’s a good sign the state government is considering what staffing levels should be like in Rochester,” Cr Wilson said.
But he still wants a review of the station’s staffing to understand exactly what is needed, as was called for in a petition tabled in parliament last month which attracted the signatures of almost 2000 community members.
Ambulance union assistant secretary Olga Bartasek said the promise was “fantastic”, and while not exactly what the union called for, it was a step in the right direction.
Ms Bartasek said the union would have input as to what stations would move to the two-officer system first.
The government has also indicated it will move towards two-officer crewing for all stations. Ms Bartasek said the government had promised that, if re-elected, it would sit down with the union within its first 100 days to determine how the remaining stations would be upgraded.
She said the support of the Rochester community was significant in bringing about the proposed change.
“The community has been fantastic,” Ms Bartasek said.
The Rochester community’s campaign to bring about changes to the town’s ambulance crews flared up after a temporary arrangement of two-officer crews ended in May.
Ambulance Victoria said the arrangement had made “no material difference” to response times, but concerns were voiced that the data did not reflect what was happening on the ground.
The number of times paramedics had to attend call-outs without the support of an ambulance community officer also became a concern, particularly after a lone female paramedic experienced abuse on a late-night job.
Labor promised Bendigo would also receive more paramedics under the package, announced on Sunday during the party’s election campaign launch.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
