Our People
3 September, 2025
New face joins the team
ARARAT’S paramedics have welcomed a new member to their ranks as Ambulance Victoria deploys its first group of new recruits across the state for 2025/26.
Graduate paramedic Randeep Atwal is one of 59 new members to join AV’s front line and has enjoyed his first month alongside Ararat’s experienced team.
“It’s my first time here, I hadn’t even heard of the name before,” said Randeep who grew up in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
“Ararat has been a lovely place so far, everyone has been very nice.” When we caught up with Randeep, he had a fresh new haircut and was preparing to work nightshift which he said has taken some getting used to.
“I haven’t quite got my routine ready for it, I’ve had a few goes at it but still trying to come up with a good combination to be full of energy for the night shift,” he said.
Randeep decided to put his hand up to be a paramedic after first-hand experiences with ambulance crews when he was younger which left a positive impression with him.
“I’ve always been inspired by what paramedics do,” he said.
“In my life, I’ve had to call the ambulance at home a lot of times and I thought paramedics just provide a sense of relief and calmness.
“They make you feel like it’s going to be OK and that’s inspired me to become a paramedic and be that for someone else.”
AV Chief Executive Officer Jordan Emery spoke passionately last month about the journey ahead for graduate ambulance paramedics who are starting their careers with AV.
“Working as a paramedic is an extraordinarily unique experience. Very few jobs will have such a profound and deep impact on peoples’ lives,” said Mr Emery.
“Our paramedics, first responders, volunteers and support staff are our greatest strength, and it is through them that we lead the way in patient care, including the nation’s best cardiac arrest survival rates.
“We now have more than 5,500 on-road paramedics delivering the very best life-saving care, everywhere, and it’s great to see more joining our ranks.”
Having completed their university degree, all new graduates start at AV with a comprehensive four-week induction and training program giving them the real-world skills they need to hit the road alongside experienced paramedics.
During this induction, recruits learn vital skills such as safely moving and loading patients to prevent injuries, aggression and assault prevention, and safely driving ambulance vehicles.
Mr Emery said Victoria has remained a leader in paramedic education since the introduction of Australia’s first ambulance officers training course in 1961.
“Ambulance Victoria has some of the most highly trained and skilled paramedics in the world,” Mr Emery said.
“These graduates will continue training and development throughout their entire careers to ensure patients receive the very best, and most up-to-date life-saving care – and stay safe while they are doing so.”
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