- Published:
- Friday 24 April 2026 at 7:00 am
When Luke Torpy and Travis Offer started their Ambulance Victoria (AV) careers 10 years ago, they never would have pictured celebrating the decade milestone working a shift together as Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedics.
The duo, now based at AV’s Ballarat branch, commenced their graduate paramedic induction together on 18 April 2016.
Five years later, Luke completed further study and on-road training to become a MICA paramedic. Recently, Travis did the same, starting his on-road training as a MICA intern with Luke as his clinical instructor.
“We thought, what are the chances! We started on the job together and now here we are, working on the MICA unit together as well. And it so happened that we were rostered on together on the day of our 10-year anniversary,” Luke said.
For Travis, having Luke as his clinical instructor has helped ease some nerves as he hits the road for the first time with the higher skillset of an AV MICA paramedic.
“I was motivated by the clinical challenge of MICA and interested in the expanded skillset and ability to treat more critically unwell patients,” Travis said.
“Luke and I have hit the ground running, attending a few critically unwell patients. Having a familiar face there with me has been reassuring and helped me feel more comfortable.”
One of those critical cases occurred on the pair’s anniversary shift, when they attended a patient who required rapid sequence intubation, a highly skilled procedure where a patient is placed into medically induced unconsciousness so paramedics can manage their airway.
“As far as MICA cases go, performing rapid sequence intubation is one of our most challenging clinical skills and is only performed on critically unwell patients,” Luke explained.
“Travis and I were standing together at the end of this night shift watching the air ambulance helicopter fly away with our patient and it was a moment to reflect on where we both are in the job and our roles within AV.
“It was really nice that we were able to provide that high quality MICA care to a patient on our 10-year anniversary.”
Luke set out for a career in healthcare by studying a nursing and paramedicine degree. Describing himself as a kind-hearted person, he said he was drawn to a role where he could help others and engage with the community.
After completing university paramedicine placements, he realised it was the career path for him and early on had his eye on MICA.
Luke worked as a graduate paramedic at AV’s Wendouree branch, before moving to Ararat where he was based until he qualified as a MICA paramedic and relocated to the Ballarat branch.
“I was so excited to start my career in ambulance and almost in disbelief – I remember looking in the mirror in my AV uniform going, ‘I can’t believe I’m a paramedic’,” Luke said.
“To look at myself in the mirror now in my MICA uniform, knowing that was a really big goal of mine when I first started, it’s really special. I just think, wow, look what I’ve achieved in these 10 years.
“I still love the job, I love going out to patients and supporting other crews out there on the road.”
Travis completed his graduate paramedic program in Geelong, then spent time at AV branches in Stawell and Ballan before undertaking his MICA studies.
“I knew I wanted a job in healthcare and paramedicine appealed to me because every day is different and you’re out and about interacting with the community. I’m quite proud to have reached 10 years in ambulance,” Travis said.
Updated