- Published:
- Monday 22 December 2025 at 10:30 am
Paramedics at the Shepparton Ambulance Victoria (AV) branch now have access to a new resuscitation manikin thanks to the generosity of the Peter and Maria Copulos Foundation.
The Copulos Foundation donated an extraordinary $20,000 to go towards purchasing and maintaining the Resusci Anne Simulator.
The manikin is anatomically realistic and designed for the unique training needs of pre-hospital emergency care, allowing paramedics to practice tasks including high-quality airway management, IV insertion, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and pulse monitoring.
Ambulance Victoria Greater Shepparton Senior Team Manager Michael Whelan said the additional resource would greatly benefit local crews.
“The Shepparton branch is responsible for over 70 staff and serves as a vital training facility for our paramedics, with a significant portion of this training being conducted through simulation-based exercises,” he said.
“This advanced simulator will enhance the learning experience for both instructors and students by providing a mobile and dynamic training platform on top of what is already provided by AV.
“We are grateful for the support of the Peter and Maria Copulos Foundation which will help our paramedics deliver best care to their patients.”
Peter Copulos and family have donated to charitable causes in the Shepparton region for over 30 years. In 2008, the Peter and Maria Copulos Foundation was formed to provide a structure to continue this support into the future. Peter’s wish is to give back to the Shepparton area where he has lived since moving to Australia as a young boy.
A key focus of the Foundation is to assist the Shepparton community, who have been instrumental in supporting Peter’s business success. His family is set to continue this legacy of the Foundation for generations to come.
“Peter and Maria are very keen on supporting health and emergency services, such as Ambulance Victoria, with the Foundation prioritising those in their donation strategy,” said John Evans, Business Advisor for the Copulos Group.
“The family wanted to give back and support the paramedics who are always working hard behind the scenes to provide such an important service to the community. They hope to provide ongoing support for years to come.”
In addition to what is already provided by AV, donations like these provide paramedic crews with specialised equipment, resources and advanced training, supporting staff to continue delivering high quality clinical care to communities like Shepparton.
“We’re thankful for every contribution - big or small – as they all go towards investing in advanced training tools to help our paramedics provide the best service we can to the community,” Mr Whelan said.
Donations to AV greater than $2 are fully tax deductible and represent a community investment in Victoria’s future pre-hospital emergency health care.
Read more about how to make a tax-deductible donation to Ambulance Victoria.
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