The people of NSW will have close to 300 new paramedics to call on in the coming weeks following a graduation ceremony held at Sydney Olympic Park today.
Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor said the additional graduates are a welcome boost to the NSW Ambulance workforce, which has been doing an incredible job on the frontline throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Across the health system, we’ve seen our health workers go above and beyond during the pandemic and our wonderful NSW Ambulance paramedics are among those leading the charge,” Mrs Taylor said.
“These vital reinforcements come at a crucial time and the entire State will benefit from the surge.”
Speaking at the NSW Ambulance Paramedic graduation ceremony at Sydney Olympic Park today, Mrs Taylor congratulated the 153 new paramedic interns graduating today, with a further 80 paramedic interns beginning four weeks of intensive induction next week, and 58 already on the road.
“It is really wonderful that many of our paramedic interns were able to join today’s graduation ceremony virtually from locations across regional NSW.
“Importantly, 63 paramedics of today’s 153 graduates will be starting their new roles in rural and regional areas, including the Blue Mountains and the Central Coast.”
NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan welcomed this newest group of interns and congratulated them on achieving this milestone after completing three years at University.
“I’m incredibly proud of what our clinicians, emergency medical call takers and dispatchers have done to serve the community in what has been the busiest period in our history. What they have achieved and continue to do so is nothing short of remarkable,” Dr Morgan said.
The NSW Government has made record investments in NSW Ambulance recruiting 750 paramedics and control centre staff in the last four years as part of the State Wide Enhancement Program (SWEP).
The NSW Government has invested more than $9 billion in NSW Ambulance since 2011 including $1.4 billion in the 2021-22 budget. This includes $214 million for a new State Operations Centre at Sydney Olympic Park.