August 8th, 2025Faster time for ambulances

Ambulance Victoria (AV) is applauding Victorians for saving ambulances for the state’s sickest people, with new data showing paramedics are responding 10 seconds faster to the most critically ill.

AV Acting Executive Director Regional Operations Michael Georgiou said demand for ‘lights and sirens’ ambulances fell by 3.5 per cent between April and June, compared with the same time last year, coinciding with an AV community information campaign to save paramedics for emergencies.

“April to June last year was AV’s busiest three months on record – with 102,419 Code 1 emergencies,” Mr Georgiou said.

“Across the same period this year, we’ve responded to 98,874 Code 1 cases.

“I thank our highly skilled paramedics and first responders who do a remarkable job providing best care to their communities, each and every day.

“We’re grateful to Victorians who are choosing to use alternative care for non-urgent issues — it means ambulances are available faster for emergencies. That community effort is helping us save lives.

“From April to June 2025, the state-wide average response time to Code 1 emergencies was 15 minutes and 27 seconds – down from 15 minutes and 37 seconds a year ago.

“There has also been an improvement in the percentage of Code 1 cases responded to within 15 minutes.”

During this quarter, AV crews across Victoria responded to 65.3 per cent of Code 1 cases within the state-wide target of 15 minutes, up from 64.2 per cent a year ago.

In the Grampians Region crews responded to 4,194 Code 1 cases between April and June 2025, down from 4,418 last year, but up from 3,960 three months ago.

Compared with the same time last year, performance improved in 53 Local Government Areas (LGAs). The biggest improvements in the Grampians Region were in the Ararat and Northern Grampians LGAs and the major population centre of Bacchus Marsh.

• In the Ararat LGA, paramedics attended 65.9 per cent of Code 1 patients within 15 minutes – up from 55 per cent a year ago – the biggest improvement in the state. As a result, Code 1 response times decreased by one minute and 46 seconds.
• In the major population centre of Horsham, paramedics attended 87.9 per cent of Code 1 patients within 15 minutes – which was the best result in the state
• In the Northern Grampians LGA, paramedics attended 61.6 per cent of Code 1 patients within 15 minutes – up from 57.1 per cent a year ago.
• Compared with a year ago, Code 1 response times decreased by one minute and 39 seconds in the major population centre of Bacchus Marsh.

AV is urging people not to be complacent, with demand for emergency ambulances climbing again as winter illnesses spread through the community.

“We’ve already seen a 3.7 per cent jump in Code 1 demand since the first three months of 2025,” Grampians Regional Director Steve Doyle said.

“Winter is always our busiest time. Our paramedics are focused on reaching the sickest patients first — but every day, more than 500 calls to Triple Zero (000) don’t need an emergency ambulance.

“There are many options people can access when they need timely medical care and health advice but don’t need an emergency ambulance, including the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department and Urgent Care Clinics.

“Our expert Secondary Triage team — made up of nurses and paramedics — plays a vital role by connecting people with the right care and freeing up ambulances for life-threatening emergencies. Between April and June alone, they redirected 46,015 non-urgent cases away from an emergency response.”

Ambulance Victoria is working closely with hospitals, emergency services and government partners to keep ambulances on the road and patients moving through the system.

“The new Standards for Safe and Timely Ambulance and Emergency Care are already making a difference — improving patient flow in hospitals and helping our crews get back on the road sooner,” Mr Doyle said.

“We’re grateful to our hospital partners for their efforts — it’s helping us reach more patients, faster.

“Since June, 117 new graduate paramedics have joined the frontline across Victoria. And earlier this year, the largest-ever single intake of 30 Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) intern paramedics hit the road — delivering a major boost to critical care statewide.”