Ambulance Victoria

Thanks to the fundraising efforts of the Jim and Enid Sleep, our Rainbow Ambulance Community Officers (ACOs) have a new vacuum mattress which will help them to move patients with suspected spinal injuries. Jim and Enid Sleep were inaugural members of the Rainbow Ambulance Auxiliary in 1972 and were also trained ambulance drivers. Jim played an integral role in establishing an ambulance service in Rainbow and worked tirelessly to help raise funds for half the cost of the vehicle, equipment, radios and branch. Over four decades, the couple were committed auxiliary members dedicating their time to raising money to purchase additional equipment for the local branch and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for the town. Read more about ambulance auxiliaries and how to make a tax deductible donation to Ambulance Victoria: https://bit.ly/4or8VsE 📸 Rainbow ACO Team Leader Renee Clugston and Hindmarsh and Yarriambiack Paramedic Community Support Coordinator Tony Murrell with the vacuum mattress.

We are proud to announce Dr Ziad Nehme ASM, our Director of Research and Evaluation, has been awarded the 2025 Commonwealth Health Minister's Award for Excellence in Health and Medical Research! Dr Nehme is the first paramedic in the award’s 25-year history to receive this honour, recognising his groundbreaking contributions to improving outcomes for patients experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). With over 25,000 OHCA cases annually in Australia and survival rates remaining low, Dr Nehme’s research is driving a paradigm shift in emergency care. Dr Nehme’s work integrates advanced technology, strengthens community response, and ensures patients have the best possible chance of survival. This award, alongside his NHMRC Investigator Grant, will support his vision to transform OHCA management and save more lives. Congratulations Dr Nehme on this remarkable achievement and for your dedication to advancing prehospital emergency care. Victoria remains the safest place in Australia and the third safest in the world for cardiac arrest survival. https://lnkd.in/g9kd6jnk National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Monash University

Last week marked 20 years of the Berringa Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)! Covering Bethanga, Bellbridge, Talgarno and Granya, the Berringa CERT has responded to over 850 Triple Zero (000) calls since starting operation on 17 November 2005. The team consists of volunteer first responders and a committee dedicated to raising funds to help purchase additional equipment. Our CERTs play a valuable role in delivering timely pre-hospital care to our rural communities. The Berringa team is made up of locals who all share a desire to help their community, a willingness to be involved and great team spirit. Congratulations on this exceptional milestone! https://bit.ly/483VJn4

Two Ouyen ambulance community officers (ACOs) are celebrating a combined 25 years of service to AV and their hometown. Alison Brackenridge is marking 10 years and Bernadette Fidge has now spent 15 years making a difference to their community. Alison became an ACO in 2015 after some spirited encouragement from the then-team leader and other ACOs. For a decade, the drive to make a difference has motivated her and she has no plans to step away anytime soon. “I can’t imagine my life not in an ambulance, and I don’t want to because I enjoy it so much.” “I love the ability to help people at their worst time, even if it’s just providing words of comfort so they don’t feel as worried. Those little things go such a long way.” Bernadette’s start as an ACO is a similar story – she was encouraged by a friend who thought she would enjoy the new challenge after nine years volunteering for Victoria State Emergency Service. “I love helping the community and being there for someone on their worst day, trying to make it better for them. “I’ve lived in Ouyen for 30 years and I love giving back to the community and doing what I can to help out.” ACOs are AV first responders, who are employed on a casual basis to work “on call” in rural and remote communities. They are trained to provide advanced first aid, to support qualified paramedics and can transport patients to hospital. https://bit.ly/4pj3JI3

Our very own Scott Clarke took home the Agency for Clinical Innovation Evidence into Practice Award at the International Conference for Emergency Nurses (ICEN). Scott presented on AV’s revolutionary Video Assisted Triage (VAT) service which connects triage services with non-urgent callers to Triple Zero (000) via video call. The Australasian-first video technology provides a more accurate patient assessment, so staff can safely refer patients to more appropriate care options such as the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) or their GP, freeing up ambulances for the life-threatening cases. For Scott, winning the award against hundreds of entries was both a shock and an honour. “It’s always nice to have your achievement and hard work acknowledged and this award is well deserved recognition to all at triage services and AV who have made VAT such a success.” VAT was first trialled from November 2023 to February 2024 before being formally implemented in April 2024. Over its first year of operation (17 April 2024 – 17 April 2025), more than 24,500 patients were assessed using VAT. https://bit.ly/49Y9W7I

This International Men’s Day, former Ambulance Victoria paramedic Malcolm Hunting is opening up about his mental health battle and the positive impact of seeking professional support, following the loss of his wife and calling time on his 45-year paramedicine career. Mal spent most of his career working in the rural town of Edenhope, a small community where everyone knew each other. This made stepping away from pre-hospital emergency care all the more challenging – retiring felt like a loss of identity. At the time, Mal’s wife Lesley was unwell and, sadly, earlier this year she passed away. Mal had lost his rock. Throughout his more-than-four-decade career, Lesley had encouraged Mal to be proactive about his mental health and to speak to a psychologist when needed. After his retirement, he finally spoke to a counsellor and admitted for the first time that he was feeling symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Now, Mal sees a psychologist and is calling on other men to ask for help and foster strong relationships with their loved ones. “Men historically, have the ‘she’ll be right’ attitude but often we’re not. Men are expected to be strong but we’re humans. We cry, we feel sad, we feel uncomfortable. “If you’re not feeling right, then the chances are, you’re not right. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and see a psychologist. My main advice is to talk to people, listen to what your loved ones are telling you and don’t bottle it up. “My main advice is to talk to people, listen to what your loved ones are telling you and don’t bottle it up. “And don’t forget to give your partner and your kids a hug. You don’t know what the future or even the next 10 minutes are going to hold. Whenever I go out the door, I always try to remember to say ‘I love you, see you later’.” https://bit.ly/4r92Cws #InternationalMensDay

Congratulations to Corryong locals Lisa Pilli and Marita Harrison, who were celebrated at our recent Hume Staff Recognition Awards. 👏 👏 Advanced life support (ALS) paramedic Marita was presented with her 20-year service medal, while ambulance community officer (ACO) Lisa took home the title of Outstanding First Responder – Community Excellence. Marita started her AV career as an ACO at the Corryong branch, and after being offered an AV supported scholarship, became a fully qualified paramedic based at Wodonga. However, it wasn’t long before she returned to her hometown of Corryong, where she remains to this day, driven by her goal of providing exceptional patient care to her local area. Lisa has been a first responder at AV for the past 13 years and has gained a reputation for being a driving force for community health education. Recently, she also led Corryong through the lifesaving Heart Safe Communities Program, which teaches locals how to do CPR and use an AED to help someone in cardiac arrest before paramedics arrive. Both Lisa and Marita demonstrate the significant impact our people have on our regional communities and the heart it takes to do this job every single day. https://bit.ly/4oGjxVo

When 30-year-old Daniel Svendsen collapsed at home from a sudden cardiac arrest, his mum Heather and friends immediately called Triple Zero (000) and began CPR. At that moment, Josh, a paramedicine and nursing student commuting by train, received a GoodSAM alert. He jumped off at Deer Park Station and sprinted 500 metres to Daniel’s home, taking over CPR until paramedics arrived. Paramedics delivered seven shocks and worked for 45 minutes before restoring Daniel’s heartbeat. He was rushed to Sunshine Hospital, where doctors treated a blockage and inserted a stent. Daniel has since made a full recovery, and he recently reunited with Josh after Heather put out a call on the communityPete Facebook page looking for him. With the help of the community, Heather and Josh connected by phone and we were able to witness the moment they reunited. This is the power of GoodSAM - ordinary Victorians stepping up and saving lives. You don’t need to be a paramedic to help save a life – any adult can download the GoodSAM app and help people in cardiac arrest in those critical minutes before paramedics arrive. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/g6SxmWE

Congratulations to our very own Manager Emergency Management, Kathryn Haden and VACIS Application Team Leader & Solutions Architect Shwetanjali Teotia, who were awarded The Council of Ambulance Authorities Inc. 2025 Women in Leadership Scholarship. AV was represented by an impressive four of the 20 finalists from across Australia and New Zealand, which included Paramedic Community Support Coordinator, Sarah Bennett and Paramedic Elisha Jones.

It’s that time of the year again! You might be able to spot some interesting helicopter and boat action at Sandringham today. 🚁 🌊 🛥️ Our MICA flight paramedics are in full swing with their annual water and vessel winch training in Port Phillip Bay and Port Fairy and you may see them out on the water at times over the coming weeks. With support from Australian Volunteer Coast Guard, Bayside City Council, Victoria, Babcock Australia & New Zealand, Sandringham Yacht Club and Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad, these sessions are all about sharpening skills for the summer season ahead. This hands-on training, including water and boat rescues, ensures our crews are prepared to handle emergencies in some of Victoria’s toughest conditions. We are gearing up for the summer, but we’d rather not meet you by accident. Stay safe and stay alert around water!