The doors have officially opened on Craigieburn's second ambulance branch to boost Ambulance Victoria's (AV) response to patients in Melbourne's rapidly growing outer northern suburbs.
AV Interim Chief Executive Office Andrew Crisp today joined Member for Kalkallo Ros Spence MP to open the multi-million-dollar, state-of-the-art site, which will be known as the Yuroke Ambulance Branch.
Paramedics moved into new branch on 18 March 2024, which is home to about 45 paramedics from the Craigieburn team.
The new state-of-the-art Yuroke Ambulance Branch.
Located on Sustainability Drive, Craigieburn, the branch is in addition to the existing Craigieburn Ambulance Branch on Lygon Drive and will house the Somerton crew, an Ambulance Response Unit (ARU) and the Doreen Ambulance Unit
The ARU is a rapid response vehicle that can be dispatched to cases faster while an emergency ambulance is on its way.
Highly trained clinical instructors and paramedic educators will also use training facilities to ensure local paramedics can provide the most up-to-date lifesaving care and treatments.
The custom-built branch features a four-bay garage for ambulances, four rest and recline areas for our hardworking paramedics to recuperate, a training room, a fully equipped kitchen, and improved security and car parking to make sure paramedics are safe.
"We know population is booming in the north - so it's important we grow too," Mr Crisp said.
"The opening of the new branch is a great milestone for the community and comes at an important time in what is a rapidly growing part of Melbourne.
"This branch has space for us to expand and serve fast growing communities like Mickleham and Kalkallo and deliver the very best care for many years to come."
(L – R) Craigieburn Team manager Sahir Murad, Metropolitan Regional Director Michael Georgiou, Senior Team Manager Lucy Claridge, Area Manager Caitlin Walker, Interim Chief Executive Officer Andrew Crisp, and Senior Manager Property Services Christopher Meulblok.
The Hume Local Government Area (LGA) is home of almost 260,000 residents, which is expected to grow to 389,000 residents by 2041.
Mr Crisp said its prime location close to main roads and major community sites such as shops and parks will ensure the best coverage of ambulance services - and that means better health outcomes for patients.
"This gives local paramedics a safe and modern home-base they can truly be proud of, with the facilities and support they need to quickly respond to critical emergencies and save lives," Mr Crisp said.
The branch was funded by the Victorian government's Ambulance Victoria Development Program and delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA) in partnership with AV.
It's one of more than 40 new or upgraded ambulance branches built since 2015. This includes new branches built at Bacchus Marsh, Melton West, Taylors Lakes and Oak Park in Melbourne's north and west.
