Ambulance Victoria
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Ambulance Victoria (AV), a Victorian
agency Agency may refer to: Organizations * Institution, governmental or others ** Advertising agency or marketing agency, a service business dedicated to creating, planning and handling advertising for its clients ** Employment agency, a business that ...
of the
Department of Health and Human Services The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a cabinet-level executive branch department of the U.S. federal government created to protect the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is " ...
, is the statutory provider of pre-hospital emergency care and
ambulance An ambulance is a medically equipped vehicle which transports patients to treatment facilities, such as hospitals. Typically, out-of-hospital medical care is provided to the patient during the transport. Ambulances are used to respond to medi ...
services in Victoria. Ambulance Victoria was formed on 1 July 2008 with the merger of the Metropolitan Ambulance Service (MAS),
Rural Ambulance Victoria Since 1 July 2008, Ambulance Victoria has been the sole provider of Ambulance, emergency ambulance services in Victoria (Australia), Victoria, having been formed from the merger of the three previous providers of emergency ambulance services: the M ...
(RAV), and the Alexandra District Ambulance Service (ADAS). Ambulance Victoria has undergone significant reform since 2008. Ambulance Victoria provides emergency medical response to more than 5.9 million people in an area of more than 227,000 square kilometres. During 2015–2016, Ambulance Victoria responded to 843,051 cases. In 2016, it was announced that 450 extra paramedics would be employed. The service is funded by fees for the cost of transport and treatment by paramedics. Members are entitled to free services. Some private health funds may refund the cost of membership, but many do not. Ambulance fees are not recoverable from Medicare or health funds.


History

A formal ambulance service began in Victoria in 1883. Over the years services were provided by St John Ambulance, Civil Ambulance Service and a multitude local area ambulance services. In the 1980s the Metropolitan Ambulance Service was formed from a number of smaller area services; and 16 regional services were amalgamated into five. In 1997, the rural services were consolidated to one rural service, Rural Ambulance Victoria. On 22 April 2008, Premier John Brumby and Health Minister Daniel Andrews announced a record funding boost of over $185m, including two new helicopter services, 26 new ambulance stations and over 300 new paramedics. In addition, it was announced that the way the state's ambulance services work was to be changed with Metropolitan Ambulance Service and Rural Ambulance Victoria becoming one organisation, Ambulance Victoria. On 26 May this decision was confirmed, with the consolidated service commencing operation on 1 July 2008.


Overview

Ambulance Victoria is required under the ''Ambulance Services Act 1986 (Vic)'' to respond rapidly to requests for help in a medical emergency; provide specialised medical skills to maintain life and to reduce injuries in emergency situations and while transporting patients; provide specialised transport facilities to move people requiring emergency medical treatment; provide services for which specialised medical or transport skills are necessary and foster public education in first aid. Ambulance Victoria's primary function is to respond to emergency incidents and its secondary function is medical transport (non-emergency) requests. Emergency Incidents are responded to by paramedics, Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedics, Air Ambulance paramedics and if in a regional area also by Ambulance Community Officers (ACO) employed on a casual basis and volunteer Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) or by Remote Area Nurse (RAN) from a bush hospital. Ambulance Victoria has more than 260 ambulance branches located across Victoria. In 2015–2016, Ambulance Victoria's workforce was 3,438 paramedics and 578 MICA paramedics. In addition, Ambulance Victoria employed 723 casual ACO and there were 357 CERT volunteers. In the same year, Ambulance Victoria responded to 843,051 emergency and non-emergency cases including 172,960 emergency road incidents in the five rural regions, 416,887 emergency road incidents in the two metropolitan regions and 4,556 emergency air incidents (2,033 by helicopter and 2,523 by plane). Ambulance Victoria assesses each emergency incident on receipt of the 000 call, designating the incident a code depending on the urgency/severity, and publishes its response times for each quarter of the year on the internet. Ambulance Victoria operates a Bicycle Response Unit in pre-planned operations for public events in Melbourne with large crowds. The unit was established in the lead up to the
2006 Commonwealth Games The 2006 Commonwealth Games, officially the XVIII Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Melbourne 2006 (Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm 2006'' or ''Naarm 2006''), was an international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth held ...
. In 2012, a Paramedic Motorcycle Unit was trialled in inner city Melbourne operating two
Piaggio MP3 The Piaggio MP3 (''Moto Piaggio a 3 ruote'', "Piaggio moto with 3 wheels") is a tilting three-wheeled scooter by Italian manufacturer Piaggio. First marketed in 2006, it is noted for its combination of two front wheels and a single rear wheel. ...
three wheeled motorbikes. The trial was successful with the BMW F700GS motorcycle selected to be the unit's motorcycle to operate in the inner Melbourne area mainly in the councils of City of Melbourne and City of Port Phillip.


Communications

Ambulance Victoria's emergency and non-emergency patient transport communications are handled by Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) communication centres in East Burwood, Williams Landing, and Ballarat. Ambulance communications functions include
000 Triple zero, Triple Zero, Zero Zero Zero, Triple 0, Triple-0, 000, or 0-0-0 may refer to: * 000 (emergency telephone number), the Australian emergency telephone number * "Triple Zero", a song by AFI (band), AFI from ''Shut Your Mouth and Open Your ...
Emergency call-taking, non-emergency patient transport requests, and ambulance dispatch for emergency and non-emergency vehicles. Modern emergency services communications is highly advanced, and communications staff use a wide range of technologies including digital and analogue
radio Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmit ...
, telephones, pagers, and advanced computer and
GPS The Global Positioning System (GPS), originally Navstar GPS, is a Radionavigation-satellite service, satellite-based radionavigation system owned by the United States government and operated by the United States Space Force. It is one of t ...
systems. Many emergency services vehicles, including ambulances, are fitted with mobile data terminals that enable them to view information, read messages sent by call-takers and dispatchers, and be notified of updates immediately as they become available. A number of communication services used by Ambulance Victoria, such as digital radio and mobile data terminals, are not available outside metropolitan Melbourne.


Vehicles

Ambulance Victoria operates a range of vehicles: *
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a light commercial vehicle ( van) built by Mercedes-Benz Group AG of Stuttgart, Germany as a large van, chassis cab, minibus, and pickup truck. In the past, the Sprinter had been sold under the Mercedes-Benz, Dodge, ...
(General Ambulance/MICA Ambulance/Patient Transport/CPAV/Adult Retrieval/Mobile Stroke Unit) * Ford Territory (Single responder/MICA Single responder) *
Toyota Kluger The Toyota Highlander, also known as the , is a mid-size crossover SUV with three-row seating produced by Toyota since 2000. Announced in April 2000 at the New York International Auto Show and arriving in late 2000 in Japan and January 2001 in ...
(MICA Support + Single Responder) *
Volkswagen Amarok The Volkswagen Amarok is a pickup truck produced by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles since 2010. It is a body-on-frame truck with double-wishbone suspension at the front and leaf springs at the rear. The Amarok range consists of single cab and d ...
(MICA Support + Single responder) *
Volkswagen Transporter The Volkswagen Transporter, based on the Volkswagen Group's T platform, now in its seventh generation, refers to a series of vans produced for over 70 years and marketed worldwide. The T series is now considered an official list of Volkswagen Gr ...
(Health Command) *
Volkswagen Crafter The Volkswagen Crafter, introduced in 2006, is the largest three- to five-ton van produced and sold by the German automaker Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. The Crafter officially replaced the Volkswagen Transporter LT that was launched in 1975, ...
(Patient Transport) * BMW F700GS motorcycles (Paramedic Motorcycle Unit) *
Honda Odyssey Honda Odyssey can refer to three motor vehicles manufactured by Honda: * Honda Odyssey (ATV), an all-terrain vehicle (1977—1989) * Honda Odyssey (minivan), a brand of two different Honda minivan models for different markets ** Honda Odyssey (inte ...
(Medical transport for walking patients - Clinical Services) *
Toyota Land Cruiser The (also sometimes spelled as LandCruiser) is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. It is Toyota's longest running series of models. , the sales of the Land Cruiser totalled more than ...
(MICA Support + Single Responder) *
Mercedes Vito The Mercedes-Benz Vito is a mid-sized light commercial vehicle (LCV) produced by Mercedes-Benz, available as a panel van, chassis cab, or multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), carrying cargo or up to eight passengers. In the Mercedes-Benz van lineup, it i ...
(MICA Support/Single Responder/Adult Retrieval) File:Ambulance Victoria (cropped).jpg, Mercedes Benz Sprinter ambulance File:2004-2008 Ford Territory TX wagon (Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance) 01.jpg, Ford Territory Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic (MICA) File:Paramedics on motorcycles.jpg, Paramedic motorcycle units Their most common vehicle is the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. This vehicle is the frontline vehicle for all of victoria as they carry one patient at a time with loads of medical equipment, which is usually staffed by two paramedics. There are also different models including models with bull bars/push bumpers for better use in rural areas. AV also operates Mobile Intensive Care Ambulances which are staffed by more specially trained paramedics and different equipment. They also operate Non-Emergency Patient Transport Ambulances (NEPT) and Clinical Transport Services units (CTS). For more complex patients, AV has Complex Patient Ambulance Vehicles (CPAV) and Adult Retrieval Services (AR) both are similar to the standard general ambulances. The CPAV units include a lift platform at the back instead of regular doors, the AR unit has more specialist equipment. Introduced in 2017, AV teamed up with The Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Stroke Foundation and numerous other agencies to create a $7 Million Mobile Stroke Unit Ambulance (MSU). The state-of-the-art vehicle include specialist equipment tailored to stroke patients. In the ambulance is a built-in CT-Scanner. Two paramedics staff the ambulance (including a MICA paramedic), a CT radiographer, a stroke neurologist and a stroke nurse specialist. The first MSU is currently running as car 6600. In 2020, it was announced that AV would commence building a next generation Stroke Ambulance otherwise known as MSU-2


Air Ambulance Victoria

Ambulance Victoria has a fleet of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft operated by Air Ambulance Victoria (AAV) based out of
Essendon Airport Essendon Fields Airport , colloquially known by its former name Essendon Airport, is a public airport serving scheduled commercial, corporate-jet, charter and general aviation flights. It is located next to the intersection of the Tullamarine ...
in Melbourne with helicopters strategically placed in regional Victoria. In addition, the helicopters respond to search and rescue incidents, able to utilise the winch, including sea rescues.


Helicopters

AAV operates five twin engine
AgustaWestland AW139 The AgustaWestland AW139 is a medium-lift twin-engined helicopter developed and produced by the Anglo-Italian helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland, later wholly owned by Leonardo S.p.A. It is marketed at several different roles, including V ...
helicopters provided by
Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia, formerly Australian Helicopters, is an Australian helicopter operator serving the Government, EMS, Transport & Television markets. Operating a mix of light and medium turbine-engined helicopters, it ...
. The helicopters were introduced from 2016 to replace the four
Bell 412EP The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter of the Huey family manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212, with the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor. Design and development Development began in the ...
helicopters and also one Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin helicopter that had been operated in partnership with the
Victoria Police Air Wing The Air Wing is the police aviation unit of Victoria Police that operates in metropolitan Melbourne and provides a service to the whole of Victoria. The Air Wing operates a fleet of three Leonardo AW139 helicopters and a Beechcraft Super King ...
.{{cite web, title=Air Ambulance Helicopters, url=http://www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/Paramedics/Our-Vehicles/Air-ambulance-helicopter.html, website=Ambulance Victoria, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160229150408/http://www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/Paramedics/Our-Vehicles/Air-ambulance-helicopter.html, archive-date=29 February 2016 The helicopters are designated HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) and operate throughout the state:- *HEMS 1 based at Essendon Airport. *HEMS 2 based at La Trobe Valley Airport. *HEMS 3 based at Bendigo Airport. *HEMS 4 based at Warrnambool Airport. *HEMS 5 is for primary response and specialist medical retrieval based at Essendon Airport. Helicopter operations commenced in 1970 with a Bell 206A JetRanger known as the 'Angel of Mercy' based on the Mornington Peninsula operated from Tyabb Airport. In 1980, a
Hughes 500D The MD Helicopters MD 500 series is an American family of light utility civilian and military helicopters. The MD 500 was developed from the Hughes 500, a civilian version of the US Army's OH-6A Cayuse/Loach. The series currently includes the M ...
was operated in the La Trobe Valley, later a Bell 206 Long Ranger and from 1985 a
Bell 412 The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter of the Huey family manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212, with the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor. Design and development Development began in the ...
known as Helimed 1 later renamed to HEMS 2. In 1986, AAV entered a partnership with the Victoria Police Air Wing to use a Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin which would respond to both police and ambulance incidents with ambulance given priority known as HEMS 1 and replacing the 'Angel of Mercy'. Two helicopters were configured for the aeromedical role with one as a spare. In 2001, a Bell 412EP was operated from Bendigo airport known as HEMS 3. In 2009, a Bell 412EP was operated from Warrnambool Airport known as HEMS 4 and a second Bell 412EP was operated from Essendon known as HEMS 5 to transport critically ill patients from rural hospitals to Melbourne. In January 2017, the final of the five new AgustaWestland AW139s entered service replacing the Victoria Police Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin and ending the partnership.{{cite press release, title=New era on the horizon for Air Ambulance, url=http://ambulance.vic.gov.au/new-era-on-the-horizon-for-air-ambulance/, website=Ambulance Victoria, access-date=23 January 2017, date=13 January 2017 The aircraft are staffed by MICA Flight Paramedics who are trained to administer blood, conduct ultrasounds, complete complex procedures and perform winch rescues.


Fixed-wing aircraft

AAV has operated four
Beechcraft Super King Air The Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by Beechcraft. The Model 200 and Model 300 series were originally marketed as the "Super King Air" family; the "Super" designation was dropped in 1996. ...
B200s, provided by Pel-Air Aviation, from its Essendon headquarters since 2011 and can reach most of Victoria within an hour. They are used mainly for transporting patients from rural towns to the major hospitals in Melbourne and can carry two stretcher patients and two walking patients. This service includes bringing people to Melbourne for regular treatments such as oncology and dialysis while also facilitating acute medical conditions requiring surgery or the transfer of injured patients from rural hospitals to specialist care. The service now reaches to more than 86 towns within Victoria while also servicing southern New South Wales, northern Tasmania and some parts of South Australia.{{cite web, title=Air Ambulance, url=http://ambulance.vic.gov.au/about-us/our-services/air-ambulance/, website=Ambulance Victoria, access-date=10 December 2016 The aircraft are typically staffed by advanced life support (ALS) paramedics.{{cite press release , title=Fixed Wing Aircraft fleet ticks over 40,000 flying hours , url=https://www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/fixed-wing-aircraft-fleet-ticks-over-40000-flying-hours/ , website=Ambulance Victoria , access-date=12 October 2019 , date=7 May 2019 File:Pel-Air Aviation, contracted for Ambulance Victoria, (VH-VAI) Raytheon Beech Super King Air B200C taxiing at Avalon Airport during the 2019 Australian International Airshow (2).jpg, Beechcraft B200C King Air operated by
Pel-Air Pel-Air Aviation Pty Ltd (trading as Pel-Air) is an airline based in Mascot, Sydney, Australia. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Regional Express Holdings, which also owns Australian airline Regional Express Airlines (Rex). Pel-Air speci ...
at
Avalon Airport Avalon Airport is an international airport located in Avalon in the City of Greater Geelong in Victoria, Australia. While located outside the Melbourne metropolitan area, it is the second busiest of the four airports serving the state capita ...
File:Pel-Air Aviation, contracted for Ambulance Victoria, (VH-VAE) Raytheon Beech Super King Air B200C departing from Avalon Airport during the 2015 Australian International Airshow.jpg, Beechcraft B200C King Air at Avalon Airport


Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Assault in Ambulance Victoria


Victorian Auditor-General Audit into Bullying and Harassment in the Health Sector 2016

On 23 March 2016, the Victorian Auditor-General tabled a damning report into "Bullying and Harassment in the Health Sector". Ambulance Victoria was one of four Government Health Bodies that was audited as part of this report. As part of the audit, the Auditor General looked at the background of the issue, workplace culture, preventing bullying and harassment, responding to bullying and harassment and sector-wide collaboration and support.https://www.audit.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/20160323-Bullying.pdf {{Bare URL PDF, date=March 2022


Key Findings from the Audit into Bullying and Harassment in the Health Sector

Key findings from the audit included: # " r Peter Frost - Victorian Auditor-Generalfound that health sector agencies are failing to respond effectively to bullying and harassment as a serious OHS risk." # "... The audited agencies do not understand the extent, causes or impact of bullying and harassment in their respective organisations, even when such issues have resulted in significant media attention and reputational damage." # "Audited agencies also do not have the fundamental, underpinning foundations of effective policies and procedures, and do not adequately train their staff and managers to deal with inappropriate behaviours to prevent them escalating into serious bullying and harassment." # "... when issues become serious bullying and harassment matters these agencies do not have the appropriate procedures to manage them or document the details to help inform future planning and action."


Ambulance Victoria's Response to the Victorian Auditor-General Audit into Bullying and Harassment in the Health Sector 2016

On 15 March 2016, chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr Ken Lay, AO, APM, acknowledged of the Audit and committed the Organisation to accepting all the recommendations of the Audit through the Ambulance and Policy Consultative Committee.{{Cite web, title=Bullying and Harassment in the Health Sector, url=https://www.audit.vic.gov.au/report/bullying-and-harassment-health-sector, access-date=2022-02-20, website=Victorian Auditor-General's Office, language=en Part of Mr Lay's response included "achieve ngsustainable culture change within Ambulance Victoria."


Allegations made public

On 26 October 2020, Allegations of widespread bullying, harassment and gross misconduct were public reported by The Age after 13 Paramedics raised an open letter to Mr Ken Lay, chairman of the board of directors.{{Cite web, last=Tuohy, first=Wendy, date=2020-10-26, title=Sex discrimination and harassment widespread in Ambulance Victoria, say paramedics, url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/sex-discrimination-and-harassment-widespread-in-ambulance-victoria-say-paramedics-20201025-p568h5.html, access-date=2022-02-20, website=The Age, language=en


Allegations made about unlawful activities by Ambulance Victoria Employees

The Age noted that: * Paramedics reported "active discrimination and instances of abuse in our workplace". * The "fear of retribution is rife and stops people speaking up about what they have seen". * "sex-based maltreatment and the lack of redress has caused them serious mental health issues, including suicidal ideation." * "12 Ambulance Victoria employees have reported rape or attempted rape or sexual assault at work, and two men have been referred to Victoria Police by the organisation for the alleged sexual assault of colleagues."


Ambulance Victoria commissioned review by The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission

On 27 October 2020, the
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission is a statutory authority in the Australian state of Victoria. It replaced the Equal Opportunity Board , set up by Victorian Premier Dick Hamer Sir Rupert James Hamer, (29 July ...
announced that it had been asked to conduct a review into allegations of unlawful, discriminatory behaviour at Ambulance Victoria by. On 30 November 2020, The Commission released the terms of reference for its review of Ambulance Victoria. Throughout the process, the commission has provided public updates regarding the review. On 20 September 2021, The commission announced that the review would be released in two Volumes "in large part due to the higher than anticipated number of people who came forward to share their experiences and views with the Commission." * Volume 1 was released on 30 November 2021. * Volume 2 is set to be published in March 2022.


Volume 1

Volume 1 was released on 30 November 2021 by The commission.{{Cite web, title=Ambulance Victoria review – Update 12 (19 November 2021), url=https://www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/news/ambulance-victoria-review-update-13-30-november-2021-2/, access-date=2022-02-21, website=Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, language=en-au


Volume 1 Key Themes

Key Themes noted by The Commissions included; * "...AV's approach to preventing discrimination, sexual harassment, bullying and victimisation is still maturing and it is not complying fully with the positive duty in the Act."{{Cite web, title=Ambulance Victoria review – Update 12 (19 November 2021), url=https://www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/news/ambulance-victoria-review-update-13-30-november-2021-2/, access-date=2022-02-21, website=Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, language=en-au * "47.2% of survey respondents reported experiencing discrimination, 17.4% reported experiencing sexual harassment, 52.4% reported experiencing bullying and 34.5% reporting experiencing victimisation" * "We
he Commission He or HE may refer to: Language * He (pronoun), an English pronoun * He (kana), the romanization of the Japanese kana へ * He (letter), the fifth letter of many Semitic alphabets * He (Cyrillic), a letter of the Cyrillic script called ''He'' i ...
commonly heard that mental ill-health and stress followed unlawful conduct." * "one participant shared in their written submission: Who would’ve guessed the most traumatic thing I’ve experienced and witnessed as a ramedic was workplace behaviour?'"''


Recommendations from Volume 1

# establishing an independent restorative engagement scheme # adopting a new set of organisational values # developing a comprehensive prevention plan # establishing a new organisational model for responding to reports and complaints # introducing anonymous reporting pathways # undertaking a security audit of isolated work environments # embedding a more structured approach to encouraging bystander action


Ambulance Victoria's Response

On 30 November 2021, The Commission noted that Ambulance Victoria had accepted all recommendations.


Volume 2

Volume 2 is due to be released in March 2022 by the Commission


Ongoing concerns by Ambulance Victoria Staff

On 29 November 2021, almost a one-year after the allegations were first publicly raised, a number of Ambulance Victoria Employees, had reported that "in some cases victimisation has worsened since the inquiry began."{{Cite web, last=Tuohy, first=Wendy, date=2021-11-29, title=Paramedics still feel 'suicidal' due to bullying despite human rights inquiry, url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/paramedics-still-feel-suicidal-due-to-bullying-despite-human-rights-inquiry-20211129-p59d1m.html, access-date=2022-02-21, website=The Age, language=en The Age also reported that " neperson is well known to the executive level as a problem, for at least 10 years. He is a direct threat ... but management are not listening."


References

{{Reflist, 30em


External links

{{Commons category, Ambulance Victoria
www.ambulance.vic.gov.au

www.colacambulance.com/

Ambulance Historical Society Victoria website
(Ambulance Vehicles, Videos, Photographs and other Ambulance Memorabilia) {{Australian Ambulance Services {{Authority control Medical and health organisations based in Victoria (Australia) 2008 establishments in Australia Emergency services in Victoria (Australia) Government agencies of Victoria (Australia) Government agencies established in 2008