General News
14 August, 2025
Paramedic response times remain consistent
AMBULANCE Victoria (AV) has recorded consistent response times across the south west, while improvement was seen state-wide.
Improvements in the percentage of Code One cases responded to within 15 minutes have been recorded across the state in the most recent quarter, with 65.3 per cent of responses hitting the state target.
The Corangamite Local Government Area (LGA) was among the areas which saw improvement, with 43.1 per cent of Code One responses meeting the state target.
This was an increase on the previous quarter, where 38.1 per cent of calls were responded to within 15 minutes.
The average response time in the fourth quarter was 21 minutes and 23 seconds, a decrease from 22 minutes and 15 seconds recorded in quarter three.
In Moyne Shire the result was a slight performance decline, 38.8 per cent of Code One calls were responded to within 15 minutes – an increase on the 37.2 per cent of the previous quarter.
The average response time in Moyne this quarter was 20 minutes and 20 seconds, which was just under a minute slower than the 19 minutes and 21 seconds reported in the previous quarter.
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 One emergencies,” he said.
“Across the same period this year, we’ve responded to 98,874 Code One 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 One emergencies was 15 minutes and 27 seconds – down from 15 minutes and 37 seconds a year ago.”
AV is urging people not to be complacent, with demand for emergency ambulances climbing again as winter illnesses spread through the community.
“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,” Barwon South West regional director Stuart Reid said.
“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.”
Read More: local