MORE NSW AMBULANCE STAFF JOIN THE RANKS

The NSW Government’s record investment in NSW Ambulance continues with almost 115 more student paramedics and call takers officially joining the ranks.

Member for Mulgoa, Tanya Davies welcomed the news that a third cohort had joined NSW Ambulance since a record $1.76 billion investment was announced as part of the 2022-23 NSW Budget.

“The NSW Liberals and Nationals in Government are delivering the largest paramedic workforce in the country, with an additional 86 student paramedics and 27 control centre trainees set to join our incredible frontline workforce from today,” Mrs Davies said.

“No other Government in the nation is investing more in health than NSW to try to ease the demand on our frontline workers and ensure better access to services closer to home.”

Student paramedics will be posted to various metropolitan and regional stations for their 12-month practicum before they are then deployed throughout the state. Call takers will be posted for their nine-week practicum to one of four NSW Ambulance Control Centres throughout the state – Eveleigh (Sydney), Western (Dubbo), Northern (Charlestown) and Southern (Warilla).

“These new recruits will further enhance the nation’s biggest and best ambulance service and provide paramedics already on the ground with the support they deserve after an incredibly challenging last few years,” Mrs Davies said.

The NSW Government’s record $1.76 billion investment includes 2,128 funded NSW Ambulance positions and 30 new Ambulance stations. It builds on investments in previous years, including an increase to ambulance workforce numbers by 750 staff over the past four years and 45 new and upgraded stations already delivered since 2011.

In the last financial year, NSW Ambulance transported more than 750,000 patients, more than any other State or Territory, yet it leads the nation in transfer of care results.

The majority of these recruits are part of the service’s new post-employment tertiary pathway, which allows people to complete their degrees in paramedicine while employed with NSW Ambulance as students, working and learning alongside registered paramedics.