Ambulance Victoria ranks grow with first recruits of 2026-27

Ambulance Victoria has welcomed its first intake of new paramedic recruits for the 2026-27 year.

The cohort of 53 new graduate and qualified ambulance paramedics started their careers with Ambulance Victoria on 20 July 2026 and comes on top of 294 new recruits to Ambulance Victoria in 2025-26.

“Working as a paramedic is an extraordinarily unique experience. Very few jobs will have such a profound and deep impact on peoples’ lives,” Ambulance Victoria Chief Executive Officer Jordan Emery said.

“Our paramedics, first responders, volunteers and support staff are our greatest strength. It is through them that we lead the way in patient care, including the nation’s best cardiac arrest survival rates.

“We now have more than 5,600 on-road paramedics delivering the very best life-saving care, everywhere, and it’s great to see more joining our ranks.”

The first intake of new graduate and qualified paramedics for this financial year started their four-week Ambulance Victoria induction program on 20 July 2026 and will hit the road on 17 August 2026. The intake includes 48 graduate ambulance paramedics and five qualified ambulance paramedics (QAP).

Of the 48 Graduate Ambulance Paramedics, for their on-road training:

• 13 graduates will be placed in metropolitan Melbourne ambulance branches including Tarneit, Brimbank, Cobblebank, Sunshine, Hadfield, Diamond Creek, Reservoir, Rowville, Burwood, Brighton, Super Response Centre South in Dandenong, Kew and Somerville.
• 35 will be placed in regional ambulance branches, including:
  • 2 in the Barwon South West Region (Colac (2))
  • 18 in the Gippsland Region (Wonthaggi (2), Leongatha (2), Korumburra, Cowes, Grantville, Morwell (2), Warragul (2), Moe (2), Traralgon (2), Drouin (2) and Sale)
  • 4 in the Grampians Region (Ballarat, Sebastopol, Daylesford and Bannockburn)
  • 2 in the Hume Region (Kilmore and Wangaratta)
  • 9 in the Loddon Mallee Region (Eaglehawk, Kangaroo Flat, Bendigo, Romsey, Maryborough, Kyabram, Echuca, Swan Hill and Mildura)

The five Qualified Ambulance Paramedics will be placed in Lakes Entrance, Shepparton (2), Wodonga and Swan Hill.

Having completed their university degree, all new graduates and qualified paramedics start at AV with a comprehensive four-week induction and training program, giving them the ‘real world’ skills they need to hit the road alongside experienced paramedics.

During this induction, recruits learn and refresh vital skills such as safely moving and loading patients to prevent injuries and safely driving ambulance vehicles.

Mr Emery said Victoria has remained a leader in paramedic education since the introduction of Australia’s first ambulance officers training course in 1961.

“Ambulance Victoria has some of the most highly trained and skilled paramedics in the world,” Mr Emery said.

“These new recruits will continue training and development throughout their entire careers to ensure patients receive the very best, and most up-to-date lifesaving care – and stay safe while they are doing so.

“I truly wish them all the best for long and rewarding careers at Ambulance Victoria.

“We are fortunate to attract outstanding applicants from across Victoria and abroad who are eager to join Ambulance Victoria. We select recruits through a highly competitive recruitment process.”

More intakes of new graduate and qualified paramedics will continue to join Ambulance Victoria throughout 2026-27.