General News
12 June, 2025
Will you become an ACO?
AMBULANCE Victoria (AV) is looking for more recruits to join the First Responder team in Mortlake.
Ambulance Community Officers (ACO) are First Responders who are employed on a casual basis to work on-call in rural and remote communities where the ambulance caseload is low, and the ambulance branch is not staffed by multiple paramedics on a full-time basis.
ACOs are trained to provide advanced first aid, to support qualified paramedics and can transport patients to hospital.
AV acting Mortlake team manager Samantha Delaney said ACOs play a vital role in community healthcare.
“Our ACOs help save lives across rural and remote Victoria through early interventions to medical emergencies,” she said.
“ACOs support the crucial work of paramedics in and around Mortlake and boost the town’s workforce capacity to respond quickly to emergencies.
“As an ACO, you will be helping people at a time of great need, making a difference to their life and health outcomes.”
There are currently about 950 ACOs providing services to rural communities across Victoria.
Becoming a First Responder with AV offers many personal benefits, including the opportunity to gain practical life skills and a recognised qualification, enjoy a sense of achievement and fulfilment, meet people and make new friends and connections and enhance your own career prospects and learning pathways.
It is recommended that applicants live within 90 minutes of the branch they’re applying for, and Ms Delaney said successful applicants would undergo regular training for an ACO qualification and to improve their clinical education.
“Becoming an ACO in Mortlake is an opportunity to help your community,” she said.
For more information contact Samantha Delaney at mortlake.teammanager@ambulance.vic.gov.au.
The application form and other details are available at www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/careers/become-a-first-responder.
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