- Published:
- Wednesday 19 November 2025 at 11:00 am
Ambulance Victoria’s (AV) revolutionary Video Assisted Triage (VAT) technology has been recognised internationally, taking out a top innovation award at the International Conference for Emergency Nurses.
AV’s Acting Manager Clinical Triage Scott Clarke took home the Agency for Clinical Innovation Evidence into Practice Award for his presentation on how VAT improves the organisation’s secondary triage service by appropriately referring more patients to alternative care options.
The Australasian-first video technology allows AV’s triage practitioners to connect with non-urgent callers to Triple Zero (000) via video call, to better assess their condition and determine the best medical care for them.
The use of video provides a more accurate assessment, allowing staff to safely refer patients to more appropriate care options such as the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) or their GP, freeing up ambulances and emergency departments for serious and life-threatening cases.
Scott said winning the award among such a large number of strong entries was both a shock and an honour.
“I hadn’t even considered the possibility of winning this award, especially in an emergency nursing environment and against so many genuinely brilliant and innovative projects,’ he said.
“It’s always nice to have your achievement and hard work acknowledged and this award is well deserved recognition to all in Triage Services and AV who have made VAT such a success.
“There were some outstanding presentations from passionate subject matter experts, and it was inspiring to hear of the incredible work others are doing to improve healthcare provision.”
Scott said technology such as VAT has changed the way AV’s team of highly skilled registered nurses and paramedics triage patients.
“The ability for our triage practitioners to see patients via video link is leading to better clinical outcomes, making more ambulances available to respond to time-critical emergencies and contributing to fewer Victorian’s attending our already over-burdened emergency departments,” he said.
“VAT also creates an opportunity for advancements in how we provide care.
“I’m excited to see what the future holds in relation to technology continuing to improve our practice and clinical outcomes for patients.”
VAT was first trialled from November 2023 to February 2024 before being formally implemented in April 2024. In its first year of operation (17 April 2024 – 17 April 2025), more than 24,500 patients were assessed using VAT - diverting thousands of patients from emergency departments, improving access for those in critical need.
Information on alternative care options for non-emergency cases.
Updated