Thursday, 16 October 2025

 Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (12:54): (1891) My question is to the Minister for Health. In February this year the government proudly announced the paramedic practitioner program as a world-first model to help address Victoria’s health crisis, particularly in regional areas, to fulfil a 2022 election commitment. I have been contacted by a local charity which has been working on establishing an urgent care centre in Gisborne with paramedic practitioners forming a critical part of the team. They have just learned that the state government and Ambulance Victoria have paused, which has effectively defunded and ceased, the paramedic practitioner program, and through regulations the department intends to restrict paramedic practitioners to work only for Ambulance Victoria. This decision has derailed plans for a locally driven urgent care centre that would help alleviate the pressure on emergency departments and reduce ambulance ramping and service delays. Minister, regional health services are under intense pressure. I ask that you reconsider this decision to ensure that the paramedic practitioner program continues and their valuable skills be used to fill critical gaps in our health system.