Australian Government News
HOBARD, Tas. — Ambulance Tasmania has unveiled a new customised vehicle designed to attract more Volunteer Ambulance Officers, especially in rural areas.
The Minister for Health, Michelle O’Byrne, officially launched the converted former ambulance vehicle which will tour the state as part of a new recruitment drive.
“Volunteer Ambulance Officers play a crucial role in Tasmania, helping deliver ambulance services to all Tasmanians,” Ms O’Byrne said.
“As it tours around Tasmania this customised ambulance will explain the role of a Volunteer Ambulance Officer and encourage more people to consider dedicating their time and energies towards helping others in their time of need.”
Ambulance Tasmania currently has 500 Volunteer Ambulance Officers working from 42 stations with 25 of those stations being staffed entirely by volunteers.
Last year volunteer crews contributed more than 500,000 hours of volunteer work and responded to 7727 emergency and 6106 non-emergency cases.
“That remarkable level of service equates to one case every 38 minutes, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Ms O’Byrne said.
“I cannot commend highly enough the dedication of our Volunteer Ambulance Officers, who so often put the needs of the community ahead of their own.”
The vehicle was launched at the first regional Volunteer Symposium in Northern Tasmania for Volunteer Ambulance Officers.
The annual events are being held in each region from this year to allow volunteers to meet with colleagues and Ambulance Tasmania staff and learn specialist skills.
The recruitment vehicle will be available for one week a year to all 42 volunteer units across Tasmania to be used as the cornerstone of the recruitment campaign.
Where possible each unit’s access to the vehicle will be timed to coincide with major community events, such as the St Helens Athletics Carnival, the Campbell Town Show or the Taste of the Huon.
“The vehicle will also be used by Ambulance Tasmania at major events such as Agfest and the Regional Shows,” Ms O’Byrne said.
“This project is a tangible example of what can be done in difficult economic times at minimal cost.”
Volunteer groups will use it to explain to people what Volunteer Ambulance Officers do and also extend Ambulance Tasmania’s community awareness campaigns such as Save Triple Zero for Saving Lives.
The vehicle is also equipped with a defibrillator, a trauma kit and oxygen to provide life saving care if needed at events or while the vehicle is travelling around the State.
The Volunteer Ambulance Officers Association of Tasmania contributed $12,000 towards the project and secured support from MAIB, RACT and SeaRoad Shipping.
The first official booking for the new vehicle is the Safe Futures Rural Expo in Longford on 5 August, an event aimed at eliminating fatalities and injuries in rural workplaces, particular among young people.
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