Boost to paramedic numbers across the region

TWELVE additional paramedics will soon start work in Lismore, and another five are coming to the Ballina station as part of a State Government push to boost the regional workforce by 500 paramedics over four years.

The new paramedics will provide emergency and mobile health care across the North Coast Zone as part of NSW Ambulance’s highly mobile workforce.

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said the additional paramedics will make a real difference in the region.

“Paramedics are one of the most trusted professions in Australia, providing life-saving frontline care to our local communities,” Ms Saffin said.

“I value these highly skilled and dedicated professionals and wish them well with their postings.”

The paramedics are among the first cohort of 125 additional paramedics who have joined teams across regional locations as part of the $1.76 billion Strategic Workforce and Infrastructure Team (SWIFT) Program.

The program will deliver up to 2500 staff across NSW, 30 new stations and hundreds more ambulances over the coming years.

NSW Ambulance chief executive Dr Dominic Morgan said this will boost the service’s capacity to provide high-quality care to patients across NSW.

“As demand for services continues to grow, we remain committed to providing world-class emergency and mobile health care to the NSW community,” Dr Morgan said.

“All our paramedics share a commitment to excellence in serving their communities all over NSW.”

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said: “The addition of these highly skilled paramedics in the bush will help drive better health outcomes for patients and their families, while also providing more support to our current NSW Ambulance staff on the North Coast.”