The Allan Labor Government has delivered a new state-of-the-art ambulance branch in Rochester, supporting its hardworking paramedics to do what they do best - save lives in their community.
Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes today visited the station to officially open of the new branch alongside local paramedics.
The project involved demolishing the previous branch on Mackay Street - which had experienced multiple flood events - and building a new, fit-for-purpose home base in its place.
The bigger and better facility includes a three-bay garage for ambulances, two rest-and-recline areas for paramedics to recuperate, longer term accommodation, training facilities, a fully equipped kitchen, car parking and improved security to make sure crews are safe right around the clock.
The new 24-hour Rochester branch is one of more than 40 stations completed across the state in the last nine years, with 10 further sites across Victoria also in the works.
It is part of the Labor Government's ongoing support of Ambulance Victoria infrastructure, with $279 million invested since 2015 to deliver 50 ambulance stations and provide better working conditions for paramedics.
Alongside improved infrastructure, the Labor Government has invested in a range of initiatives to improve access to emergency ambulance services in regional Victoria, such as increasing the number of dual paramedic 24-hour ambulance stations and dedicated units that can respond to peak periods of demand.
The Victorian Budget 2023/24 provided more than $200 million to improve access to emergency care. An additional $46 million investment went towards training mobile intensive care ambulance paramedics, getting 25 specialist paramedic practitioners on the road and supporting the new Centre for Excellence in Paramedicine.
To help paramedics meet demand and respond to the most time-critical patients, a further $108 million from this year's state budget is supporting services such as the Secondary Triage Service and the Medium Acuity Transport Service.
In February 2020, Rochester was the first of 15 branches across Victoria that were upgraded from single to dual paramedic crewing, meaning more people in Rochester are now benefitting from greater access to lifesaving care.
As stated by Minister for Ambulance Services Mary-Anne Thomas
"Investing in local healthcare infrastructure is a top priority for our government, and this new branch is a testament to our commitment to the wellbeing of Victorians."
As stated by Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes
"The people of Rochester know just how important our emergency crews are in times of crisis - so it is fantastic our hardworking paramedics now have this new fit-for-purpose base."
