There's been another milestone for Australia's first ever Paramedic Practitioners, with legislation introduced into Victorian Parliament to enshrine the new Ambulance Victoria (AV) role into law.
Currently, 29 paramedics are studying the Australian-first Master of Paramedic Practitioner degree at Monash University, training to provide a new and expanded level of care.
The new role is set to reduce the number of people needing to go to hospital for lower acuity or chronic conditions, by allowing qualified paramedics to be able to handle and administer scheduled medicines, so they can prescribe and supply medicines on the spot.
Sean Duggan is one of 29 paramedics studying the Paramedic Practitioner course.
This will mean Paramedic Practitioners can assess, diagnose and treat a greater range of medical conditions locally without the need to transfer patients to hospital, including conditions such as urinary catheter care, wound care and closure, minor infections, dislocations and fractures.
The first graduates of the course will be deployed to regional Victoria in 2026.
A second cohort is set to begin the course next year.
The course was developed by Monash University in consultation with AV, Safer Care Victoria, paramedics, clinicians and unions.
AV Ballarat Paramedic Community Support Coordinator (PCSC) Sean Duggan is part of the first cohort undertaking the course.
"It's such an exciting space and this is another milestone ticked off," he said.
"Every community has different healthcare needs, and this role will provide another alternative care pathway.
"Paramedic Practitioners will have the clinical skill and knowledge to treat our community members in their own home, and that's where most would prefer to be.
"It is a privilege to be a part of the new healthcare initiative and I'm looking forward to improving healthcare outcomes."
AV Interim Chief Executive Officer Andrew Crisp said the new role is an innovative step forward.
"The new Paramedic Practitioner role for AV is an exciting Australian-first initiative, which cements our reputation as a global leader in pre-hospital emergency care," he said.
"Highly skilled Paramedic Practitioners will be able to deliver a broader range of specialised, pre-hospital emergency care to patients in the community - making a real difference to people living in rural and regional Victoria.
"We want to ensure all patients receive the right level of care, in the right place, at the right time, and for many patients this will eliminate the need for them to go to hospital, freeing up more ambulances to respond to the most critically ill patients, faster.
"As a result, it will also ease pressure on hospital emergency departments."
