To mark this year’s International Paramedics Day, Ambulance Victoria has highlighted the work and care their paramedic forces have, and continue to deliver every day across a variety of roles.
Celebrated on Monday 8 July, AV dedicated the day through a theme of The Difference We Make, which speaks on the impact of every paramedic’s work.
Alternate services lead, MICA paramedic Sam Peart, who has been a paramedic for 11 years said that he loves his job, and although it “comes with its own set of unique stresses”, it “has so many rewards”.
“I work with such amazing people, which makes it so fulfilling and I couldn’t imagine doing it without the incredible colleagues and friends beside me,” he said.
With his role as an alternate services lead, Mr Peart specialises in helping to uplift and promote alternative care pathways that Victorians case use when they are in need of care.
For the last six years, he also has extensive experience as a Mobile Intensive Care (MICA) Paramedic, where he acknowledged that as the profession has evolved, “we’ve gained incredible skills that allow us to perform pre-hospital procedures that previously could only be done in an emergency department or intensive care unit”.
“It’s incredibly special to know that we can make such a profound impact, not just on the patient and ourselves, but also on their family, friends, and everyone who knows them,” he said.
MICA flight paramedic, Sarah Hirons began her current career just five years ago, but began her career 20 years ago, with a love for the job revolving around not just helping others, but also the challenges and the continuous opportunities for growth.
“In my role, I work as part of the team that primarily supports rural and regional communities across Victoria,” she said.
“Combining my work as a MICA paramedic with aviation, search and rescue, and secondary retrieval has certainly added new layers of complexity and challenge to the role,” she said.
“I love my job, especially the teamwork – working with pilots and aircrew officers is a unique experience,” she said.
Five years ago, Ms Hirons and her colleague Michaela became the first women to perform the MICa flight paramedic role at AV, a role which she receives “so much satisfaction from supporting the younger generation of paramedics, particularly women who enter the profession”.
Graduate paramedic inductee, King Tung Choi was first exposed to paramedicine when he was just 12 years old when he joined Hong Kong St John Ambulance as a cadet.
Since then, he has always wanted to work in healthcare and care for others, saying that “I find that I’m good at reassuring people during times of difficulty”.
Mr Choi moved back and forth between Melbourne and Hong Kong but has since permanently relocated to Melbourne after completing studies in nursing and volunteering for St John Ambulance.
“The process at AV is highly competitive and I’m proud that my hard work and perseverance paid off.”
King is currently undertaking his four-week induction for AV before joining crews on-road as a paramedic.
“I love Melbourne, its diversity, and the fact that it’s a wonderful place to raise my family,” he said.
“In preparation for my graduate paramedic role, I’ve been keenly learning from professionals across AV, and it’s been fantastic to hear and learn about their experiences,” he said.
