The Trentham community has received a major upgrade to the local ambulance service after the official opening of the new Ambulance Victoria (AV) Ambulance Community Officer (ACO) branch.
The new purpose-built facility on Station Street includes a training room, kitchen, bathroom and rest and recline areas, as well as security upgrades, car parking and space to house one ambulance.
Thanks to the new facility, AV was able to transition the local Trentham ambulance service from a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to an ACO branch with higher trained first responders.
The Trentham community celebrated the official opening of the new ACO branch last week.
The branch is home to four ACOs who transferred from the Trentham CERT, while another eight ACOs have been recruited and have started training.
A new ambulance stretcher vehicle that can transport patients is an extra upgrade, which in turn frees up other ambulance crews in the region.
ACOs are locally based first responders trained to provide advanced first aid in small rural and remote communities.
These officers are dispatched at the same time as paramedics to a Triple Zero (000) call to help provide the fastest response possible.
AV Interim Chief Executive Officer Andrew Crisp (fifth from right) visited the new branch, which is home to four ACOs who transferred from the Trentham CERT, while another eight ACOs have been recruited and started training.
AV Interim Chief Executive Officer Andrew Crisp said the opening was a milestone for the community and dedicated ACOs.
"This new, purpose-built branch ensures the local ACOs have the facilities and support they need to quickly respond to emergencies and assist with saving lives," Mr Crisp said.
"Facilities like these are a community asset and it's great to see the ACO crew settling in.
"I would like to thank Sabatino Constructions and the AV property team for the outstanding job they have done renovating this facility."
The new Trentham ACO branch has been operational since 2 September 2024 and has already responded to more than 40 cases, including 26 Code 1 emergencies.
Trentham has been served by dedicated members of the Trentham CERT since 2020.
