The Malinauskas Labor Government is launching a new campaign for its massive recruitment of 350 ambos to improve response times and help fix the ramping crisis.

This comes as the first new intern cohort of 32 paramedic graduates is set to start work tomorrow, providing a much-needed boost to paramedic numbers.

The Government is delivering on its election promises, committing $124 million in the State Budget to employ 278 paramedics and 72 ambulance officers over four years.

This funding will bolster the SA Ambulance Service frontline workforce to give South Australians the care they need when they need it – and help fix the former Liberal Government’s ramping crisis.

99 ambos (paramedics, ambulance officers and 000 call takers) will start by mid-next year, with the first additional 16-paramedic crew expected to start in two months based at Parkside before ultimately moving to the new Norwood station.

77 new paramedics before the end of July 2023:

• Within two months some of these new paramedics will be working on a new 24/7 emergency Ambulance temporarily based at Parkside station, but transitioning over time to the new Norwood station.
• The new paramedics will also work in metro and regional areas including Golden Grove, Marion, Edwardstown, Mount Barker and Gawler.
• SA Ambulance will fill the new positions from a pool of highly skilled and experienced paramedics, with several expected to join from interstate.
• SA Ambulance Service has also opened applications for internships, with double the usual intake, bringing on 102 paramedicine science students overall. The first new intern cohort of 32 is starting work tomorrow.

22 more ambulance officers and 000 Call Takers before the end of July 2023:

• 12 more staff for the Emergency Support Service, providing important coverage for medium-urgency cases that often wait long periods for care.
• 10 additional 000 call taker staff in the Emergency Operations Centre, supporting a service which is under pressure with increasing 000 calls.

At the election Labor made the promise of 350 extra ambos to bolster SA Ambulance to provide more resources, relieve pressure on ambos, improve worsening response times and to help fix ramping, with ramping across metro hospital escalating to record levels - a 485% increase - under the four years of the former Government.

The State Budget also provides a major $187.2 million investment in SA Ambulance Service infrastructure, with five brand new stations, 4 rebuilds, 10 upgrades and a new SA Ambulance headquarters.

To apply for SAAS jobs visit: saambulance.sa.gov.au/work-with-us/

Quotes

Attributable to Peter Malinauskas

Before the State Election, our ambos and the community spoke up for more ambulance resources.

Labor listened to the community and to our hard-working ambos and we are delivering the largest frontline boost ever to SA Ambulance Service.

We are recruiting 350 more ambos, over and above attrition, and we’re already pushing ahead with recruitment call-outs for experienced paramedics, interns and Triple Zero call takers.

We are also renewing their ageing stations to provide ambos with facilities that support them to do their job. We are rebuilding SA Ambulance after years of neglect by the former Government.

Attributable to Stephen Mullighan

This Government is getting on with delivering new state-of-the-art infrastructure, more ambulances, and a larger workforce.

This extra funding will enable SA Ambulance to recruit more ambos and relieve pressure on ambos currently providing emergency care in SA.

Attributable to Chris Picton

The former Government did nothing to address ramping, and left patients and ambos to endure endless ramping outside of hospital EDs.

Our commitment to additional ambos builds on our commitment to 554 more hospital and community beds which will provide the capacity needed for patients to get off the ramp and into the care they require.