MEMBER for Mildura Ali Cupper is calling upon the State Government to commit to continuing the provision of advanced paramedic roles in rural and regional Victorian communities.
“The Advancing Paramedic Roles Implementation Pilot (APRIP) program has been a brilliant initiative for isolated communities, where the availability of GPs and other primary health services can be extremely limited,” Ms Cupper said.
“This program is a key component in the ongoing navigation of rural health challenges.
“In my electorate its proven to be a vital stopgap, and it needs to continue.”
The pilot, which ran in Ouyen and Tallangatta from 2020, has now ended.
“Ambulance Victoria and Mallee Track Health and Community Services have done a stellar job in this pilot to demonstrate the value advanced paramedic roles can have in our smaller towns,” Ms Cupper said.
“The upskilled paramedic in Ouyen has been invaluable for the Mallee Track community during what has been a challenging few years in the health sector.”
Ambulance Victoria will be delivering a final report and evaluation of the pilot by mid-2022.
“I expect that report will provide valuable insights regarding potential future expansion opportunities for advanced paramedic roles,” Ms Cupper said.
“What I’m lobbying for is for the program to continue locally, and for it to expand significantly within my electorate.
“Every town deserves accessible primary health care no matter its location, and the APRIP program helps ensure more patients are assessed and treated locally, rather than needing to travel long distances for their health care needs.”

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