Ambulance Victoria Development Program

We are upgrading and rebuilding ambulance branches across Victoria and fixing branches that are in need of repair.

The features of each ambulance branch will be designed to meet the needs of the location and the community it serves, and may include:

• dedicated ambulance response bays
• modern amenities
• rest and recline rooms
• training facilities
• staff parking
• reliever’s quarters for long-term paramedic accommodation
• better security
• better storage.

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 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.

Lights and sirens

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.

This program is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with Ambulance Victoria.