MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday 20 February 2024

The Australasian College of Paramedicine (the College) is pleased that the Victorian Government has recognised the paramedic workforce in the recently released Health Workforce Strategy, but cautioned that "the devil is in the detail" in the implementation plan.

Through the Healthcare Workforce Strategy consultation process, the College urged the Victorian Government to develop a comprehensive, innovative and holistic health workforce plan. The College recommended the implementation of sustainable workforce initiatives to attract and retain healthcare workers, particularly in rural and regional areas, investment in training to boost capability, the development of a healthcare worker wellbeing strategy, and implementation of innovative models of care.   

College CEO John Bruning said: “While the strategy promises to ‘bolster workforce capacity and capability’ and ‘modernise models of care’, there is much work to be done to implement the system-wide changes required to better utilise, promote and support the paramedic workforce and ultimately improve healthcare access and health outcomes for Victorians.

“The College looks forward to collaborating with the Victorian Government to ensure the paramedic workforce is not overlooked throughout the 10-year implementation phase, particularly in areas of career growth and opportunity, expanded scope of practice beyond traditional settings, and innovative models of team-based care.”

As the peak body representing and supporting paramedics and paramedic students, the College champions the role of paramedics in emergency, urgent and primary care, driving a connected, multidisciplinary approach to high-quality healthcare in all communities across Australasia.

Read College submission to Victorian Government: https://paramedics.org/news/_submission_2022_vichealthworkforce

Read Victorian Healthcare Workforce Strategy: https://content.health.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-02/victorian-health-workforce-strategy.pdf

Media contact: Lindsey Salas, Good Talent Media | 0416 335 886 | lindsey@goodtalent.com.au