Ambulance Victoria ranks grow with new recruits in 2026

Ambulance Victoria (AV) has welcomed its first intake of new paramedic recruits for 2026.

The cohort of 20 new graduate ambulance paramedics started their careers with AV on 30 March 2026.

“Working as a paramedic is an extraordinarily unique experience. Very few jobs will have such a profound and deep impact on peoples’ lives,” AV Executive Director Quality and Clinical Innovation Dr Tegwyn McManamny 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.”

Last financial year, AV met its target to recruit 229 new graduate and qualified paramedics, and 248 new recruits are already on board in 2025-26.

The latest intake of new graduate paramedics for this financial year started their AV induction program on 30 March 2026 and will hit the road on 27 April 2026.

For their on-road training:

• 6 graduates will be placed in metropolitan Melbourne (located at branches in Melton, St Albans, Hadfield, the Super Response Centre (SRC) North in Campbellfield, Belgrave and Bulleen.

• 14 will be placed in regional Victoria, including:

• 4 in the Barwon South West Region (Colac, Hamilton (2) and Warrnambool)

• 4 in the Gippsland Region (Korumburra, Leongatha, Moe and Morwell)

• 2 in the Grampians Region (Ballarat and Ballan)

• 2 in the Hume Region (Mooroopna and Wangaratta)

• 2 in the Loddon Mallee Region (Gisborne and Woodend)

Having completed their university degree, all new graduates 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 vital skills such as safely moving and loading patients to prevent injuries and safely driving ambulance vehicles.

Dr McManamny 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,” Dr McManamny said.

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

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