The Victorian Government has committed more than $280 million since 2015 to the Ambulance Victoria Development Program. This program aims to upgrade and rebuild ambulance branches to provide better working conditions for paramedics and ensure lifesaving emergency care is available for all Victorians.
We know that Victorians rely on the expertise, compassion and commitment of our paramedics. We also know that paramedics need modern, purpose-built workplaces, and the latest equipment to stay safe at work and deliver the best care.
That’s why we’re upgrading and building new ambulance branches across Victoria. Modern, advanced and well-located ambulance branches mean Victorians can receive the best lifesaving emergency care, now – and into the future.
What's new
Beechworth set for new ambulance branch
Beechworth is getting a new ambulance branch, helping paramedics to provide the very best emergency care.
The Ambulance Victoria Development Program aims to achieve the following benefits:
Access to services
Upgrading and renewing high priority ambulance branches will enable our paramedics to provide lifesaving emergency care and regular ambulance services in more locations across Victoria.
Safety and wellbeing for paramedics
New and refurbished ambulance branches will mean improved safety and wellbeing for ambulance staff and paramedics, including:
secure car parking
improved medication management systems
increased capacity to provide support staff at single officer branches.
Sustainability
We use modern designs and materials alongside environmentally sustainable building practices. This delivers greater operational efficiency with a reduced impact on the environment.
Local economy
We are partnering with local trades and businesses to construct and upgrade ambulance branches across Victoria. This supports local jobs through employment opportunities and the purchasing of local materials.
Our relationship with our neighbours is important to us and we are committed to minimising disruption as much as possible, while we deliver this vital health infrastructure project for the local community.
Construction impacts may include increased vehicle and people movement in the area, and localised noise and dust.
These impacts will be regularly monitored and minimised wherever possible. All works will be carried out in accordance with approved Environment Protection Authority and Council guidelines, and within approved construction work hours.
Across our sites, traffic management will be in place to minimise impacts and to ensure the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and road users.
Ambulance branches serve as a respite area for paramedics between call-outs, a secure garage to house and manage ambulance vehicles, and as an administrative base for paramedics.
The types of activities generally undertaken include:
administrative tasks associated with management of the branch and patients that have been transported to and from hospital. Patients are never transported back to ambulance branches
restocking of ambulance vehicles
accepting delivery of goods and collection of goods, such as general waste.
Staffing
There are generally two paramedics per ambulance vehicle. In addition, there may be a visiting supervisor in attendance, mainly during business hours. It is not uncommon for an ambulance team to be away from the site attending to cases for a large portion of their shift.
Vehicles
Each ambulance branch is designed to accommodate the required emergency vehicles for the area. This may include a mix of stretcher ambulances and sedan vehicles.
Vehicle movements vary from day to day, however often paramedics do not return to ambulance branches in between cases but go directly to the next case, returning at change of shift.
Even in urgent cases paramedics are trained to approach all cases with caution and in a safe manner and will take appropriate care while driving.
Every minute that goes by not only decreases the chances of surviving a major emergency, such as cardiac arrest, but also affects a patient’s quality of recovery. It is therefore essential that paramedics who are highly trained in helping to save lives, reach patients as quickly as possible.
Paramedics understand sirens – or the prospect of the use of sirens – can be distressing to the community and therefore adopt an attitude of caution, thoughtfulness and respect towards the neighbourhood.
Sirens are generally turned on only when necessary (Code 1 call-outs) to warn other road users, once the vehicle has left the branch.
Sirens are generally not used in residential streets, especially at night.
Lights and sirens on ambulance vehicles are used for approximately half of all cases.
Paramedics will generally only use one or both when conditions require them for safe vehicle egress and public safety.
Ambulance lights can be used independently of the sirens.
Unlike fire stations, ambulance branches do not have a continuous siren. No other activities at any given ambulance branch will have a major noise impact on surrounding areas.
General noise
When occupied, an ambulance branch generates a similar amount of noise as a normal domestic residence. When paramedics are present, their usual tasks include attending to administrative duties, restocking or cleaning the interior of ambulance vehicles or resting.
Ambulance branches do not have a PA system as paramedics are contacted by hand-held radios and pagers.
Construction is complete on the new Gisborne and Oak Park ambulance branches. Work has also finished on the first stage of the new Inglewood Ambulance Branch.
We're boosting ambulance resources in Taylors Lakes and Melton, giving paramedics the facilities and support they need to quickly respond to local emergencies.
More Victorians can now access improved emergency care with the opening this week of the Port Fairy ambulance branch and the Winchelsea ambulance branch.
Victorian communities and visitors will receive improved emergency care with the opening of two new ambulance branches in Mitchell Shire and the Bellarine Peninsula.
Doors have opened on Tatura’s first ever ambulance branch, meaning faster response times in medical emergencies for the people of Tatura and Greater Shepparton.
Mernda and surrounding areas can now receive faster response times to life-threatening medical emergencies with the opening of a $4.1 million ambulance branch.
Diamond Creek and surrounding areas can now access to round-the-clock emergency care with the opening of a new $2.5 million state-of-the-art ambulance branch.
With construction underway on a new ambulance branch in Winchelsea, Surf Coast communities can soon look forward to even faster emergency response times.
Sale, Traralgon, Murchison and surrounding communities will receive faster emergency care now that three new ambulance branches have opened their doors.
The Victorian Government’s rebuild of the state’s ambulance system has reached another milestone, ‘topping out’ the new $1.6 million Eltham ambulance station.
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