Paramedics and first responders across Victoria are responding to the most critical ‘Code 1’ emergencies on average 17 seconds faster than three months ago.
Ambulance Victoria (AV) Executive Director Regional Operations Danielle North said demand on ambulance crews had fallen by 4.5 per cent between January and March compared with the last three months of 2024.
“Despite the drop this quarter, we have seen a 31.8 per cent increase in Code 1 cases since the COVID-19 pandemic began more than five years ago,” Ms North said.
“After three quarters in a row close to or above 100,000 Code 1 cases, the first quarter of 2025 brought some welcome relief for our crews who were called to 95,321 Code 1 emergencies.
“The work our paramedics, doctors, nurses, first responders and support staff do every day in helping people in their time of greatest need is outstanding. It is through them that we continue to lead the way in patient care including one of the best cardiac arrest survival rates in the world.”
From January to March 2025, AV crews across Victoria responded to 65.6 per cent of Code 1 cases within the state-wide target of 15 minutes, up from 64.9 per cent in the previous quarter. The state-wide average response time to Code 1 emergencies was 15 minutes and 25 seconds, an improvement from 15 minutes and 42 seconds three months ago.
Compared with the previous quarter, performance improved in 45 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
In the Barwon South West Region crews responded to 7,185 Code 1 cases between January and March 2025, down from 7,230 in the previous quarter.
Regional highlights:
In the Moyne LGA, paramedics attended 37.2 per cent of Code 1 patients within 15 minutes – up from 33.2 per cent three months ago. As a result, Code 1 response times decreased by one minute and 10 seconds.
In the Warrnambool LGA, paramedics attended 85.6 per cent of Code 1 patients within 15 minutes – which was the best result in the state and exceeds the performance target. As a result, paramedics are arriving 49 seconds faster than three months ago.
The Greater Geelong LGA was the busiest in the state, with paramedics attending 4,814 Code 1 cases between January and March – or 5.05 per cent of the total Code 1 workload.
In the Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads major population centre, paramedics attended 77.7 per cent of Code 1 patients within 15 minutes – up from 71.8 per cent three months ago. This is third biggest improvement in the state. As a result, paramedics are arriving 54 seconds faster than three months ago.
Barwon South West Regional Director Jerome Peyton said, “We know there is more work to do. We continue to work with our partners to ensure our paramedics and first responders are dispatched to the right patient at the right time.
“We welcome the new Standards for Safe and Timely Ambulance and Emergency Care for Victorians which seek to improve system-wide patient flow so that patients can be transferred into a hospital in a timely way, and paramedics are back on the road and responding to the community.
“Since last November, we have welcomed 119 new paramedics statewide to our ranks including graduate paramedics and qualified paramedics from New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory and New Zealand.
“Meanwhile our largest single intake of 30 Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) intern paramedics hit the road earlier this year providing a significant boost to critical care across Victoria.
“We are also rolling out new digital radios across Regional Victoria and iPads to all our crews making it easier and faster to complete electronic patient care records and get back on the road quicker.”
Mr Peyton said, “Our expert Secondary Triage team of nurses and paramedics also make a real difference by connecting patients with the care they need while helping free up crews for patients in time-critical emergencies.
“From January to March, 43,858 people who did not need an emergency ambulance were instead connected to more appropriate care by paramedics and nurses in Secondary Triage.
“In 2023-24, paramedics referred nearly 43,000 patients to the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED), with over three quarters cared for without transport to a physical ED.
“And our Medium Acuity Transport Service (MATS) crews dedicated for less-urgent calls attended 7,256 cases during the last quarter, freeing up more ambulances to respond to the most critically ill patients.”
Mr Peyton encouraged Victorians to do their part to ensure AV’s highly skilled paramedics were available for patients most in need.
“There are many options people can access when they need timely medical care and health advice but don’t need an emergency ambulance, including the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department and Urgent Care Centres,” Mr Peyton said.
“We know demand on our hard-working paramedics and first responders will rise as we head towards winter.
“That’s why we also urge Victorians to book in their annual flu vaccination, keep regular check-ups with your GP or specialist and stay home if unwell – we can all help to protect ourselves and people most at risk in the community.”
