Ambulance Victoria
 |
|
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 July 2008 |
| Preceding agencies |
|
| Jurisdiction | Victoria |
| Employees | 4,123 |
| Annual budget | A$810.9 million (2015–2016) |
| Minister responsible |
|
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent agency | Department of Health & Human Services |
| Website | www.ambulance.vic.gov.au |
Ambulance Victoria (AV), an agency of the Department of Health & Human Services, is the statutory provider of pre-hospital emergency care and ambulance services in Victoria. Ambulance Victoria was formed on 1 July 2008 following the merger of the Metropolitan Ambulance Service (MAS), Rural Ambulance Victoria (RAV), and the Alexandra District Ambulance Service (ADAS). Ambulance Victoria has undergone significant reform since 2008.
Ambulance Victoria provides emergency medical response to more than 5.9 million people in an area of more than 227,000 square kilometres. During 2015-2016, Ambulance Victoria responded to 843,051 cases.
In 2016, it was announced that 450 extra paramedics would be funded the largest Victorian ambulance investment ever.
Formal ambulance services began in Victoria since 1883. Over the years services were provided by St John Ambulance, Civil Ambulance Service and a multitude of local area ambulance services. In the 1980s the Metropolitan Ambulance Service was formed from a number of smaller area services and 16 regional services were amalgamated into five. In 1997 this was then consolidated down to one rural service, Rural Ambulance Victoria.
On 22 April 2008, Premier John Brumby and Health Minister Daniel Andrews announced a record funding boost of over $185m, including two new helicopter services, 26 new ambulance stations and over 300 new paramedics. In addition to this, it was also announced that the very way the state's ambulance services work was proposed to be changed with Metropolitan Ambulance Service and Rural Ambulance Victoria becoming one organisation, Ambulance Victoria. On 26 May this decision was confirmed, with one service commencing operation on 1 July 2008.
Ambulance Victoria is required under the Ambulance Services Act 1986 (Vic) to respond rapidly to requests for help in a medical emergency; provide specialised medical skills to maintain life and to reduce injuries in emergency situations and while transporting patients; provide specialised transport facilities to move people requiring emergency medical treatment; provide services for which specialised medical or transport skills are necessary and foster public education in first aid.
...
Wikipedia