Agency overview | |
---|---|
Formed | 1 July 2008 |
Preceding agencies |
|
Jurisdiction | Victoria |
Headquarters | Doncaster, Victoria, Australia |
Employees | 4,123[1] |
Annual budget | A$810.9 million (2015–2016)[1] |
Minister responsible |
|
Agency executive | |
Parent agency | Department of Health |
Website | www.ambulance.vic.gov.au |
Ambulance Victoria (AV), a Victorian agency of the Department of Health, is the statutory provider of pre-hospital emergency care and ambulance services in Victoria. Ambulance Victoria was formed on 1 July 2008 with the merger of the Metropolitan Ambulance Service (MAS), Rural Ambulance Victoria (RAV), and the Alexandra District Ambulance Service (ADAS).[4] 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.[1] During 2015–2016, Ambulance Victoria responded to 843,051 cases.[1]
In 2016, it was announced that 450 extra paramedics would be employed.[5]
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.
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