The Advanced Paramedic Roles Implementation Pilot was launched last week, to trial new roles for paramedics in rural communities.

Under the pilot, paramedics will go beyond their role as emergency workers, working with health partners in the community to prevent health problems before they become life-threatening.

The pilot will involve Paramedic Community Support Coordinators who already work in small rural communities across the state including Stawell, Donald and Hopetoun.

PCSCs are professional paramedics who provide emergency care, but also provide training to first responders such as Ambulance Community Officers. 

There has been a Stawell-based PCSC since July, looking after a vast area across the Wimmera including Halls Gap and Kaniva. 

“They have a focus on community engagement,” Ambulance Victoria Wimmera group manager Tim Mayweld said.

“Where we have teams that run without full time paramedics, he is there to help and support them with their training and so on.

“It also includes things like making sure there is plenty of defibrillators in the community as well as working closely with smaller local hospitals in terms of training and confidence.”

Mr Mayweld said the continued development of the role of paramedics in the Wimmera is crucial to the wellbeing and health of people. 

“From my perspective it has given us some vital links into the community we mightn't have had the ability to establish otherwise,” he said.

”We have dramatically increased number of AEDs (defibrillators) available for use across the Wimmera.”

Ambulance Services minister Jill Hennessy said pilot program is beneficial for both paramedics and members of the community. 

“Advanced paramedics will work hand-in-hand with local communities to build local First Responder skills and better educate the community about health and wellbeing,” she said.

“We’re giving paramedics new opportunities to learn new skills and advance their careers.”