NSW Ambulance has welcomed 82 new paramedic interns today after they were officially inducted into the service at a ceremony in Sydney.
This is the fifth class to join NSW Ambulance this year, with 54 of the paramedics joining the team from interstate and two from New Zealand.
Following completion of a tertiary degree at university, the paramedic interns have completed six weeks of induction with NSW Ambulance.
They will now be posted across the state to complete the on-road portion of their 12-month internships.
More than half of this class will start their careers in regional NSW, with 16 heading to Hunter New England, 12 to the North Coast, 15 to Southern NSW and four to Western NSW. This is a significant boost for these regional areas and will further assist NSW Ambulance in providing world-class emergency and mobile healthcare across the state.
Following their year as an intern, the paramedics will return to Sydney to complete their training before taking up permanent positions in metropolitan and regional areas.
The Minns Labor Government is committed to supporting our paramedic workforce, having started the roll out of 500 additional paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities and investing in a record pay increase for paramedics in December making them among the highest paid in the country.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Ryan Park:
"I’m proud to welcome our latest paramedic interns to NSW Ambulance where I know they will provide the people of NSW with the best care possible when they are unwell and at their most vulnerable.
“I congratulate these new paramedic interns for reaching this milestone as they start their careers on the frontline of emergency healthcare in NSW and thank them for their dedication to their community.”
Quotes attributable to NSW Ambulance Chief Executive, Dr Dominic Morgan:
“I warmly welcome these interns into NSW Ambulance where each of them will play a vital role in keeping the people of NSW safe and healthy.
“I know all who were inducted today have demonstrated a high level of clinical skills and dedication to their training.”