Broome ambos get Royalty for Regions boost, Duncan
Author: Wendy Duncan
Published on: 27-April-2011
The inclusion of Broome as one of nine regional towns to benefit from a State Government initiative to appoint 39 paramedics to assist the delivery of St John Ambulance Services throughout the State has been welcomed by Member for Mining and Pastoral, Hon Wendy Duncan MLC.
“The funding for the paramedic is part of the $26 million of Royalties for Regions commitment made in last year’s budget, with $5.3million committed to improve services in regional WA in 2010-11,” Ms Duncan said.
“Ambulance services in the regions have been under incredible pressure due to their dependence on volunteers, this funding will give the vollies a boost by having a community paramedic to help with recruitment and training.”
Ms Duncan said that similar Royalties for Regions funding in Karratha, Kununurra and Newman had seen the numbers of volunteers boosted and their training needs met in a timely manner.
The expansion of the initiative has come in response to the review of operations at St John Ambulance where all 13 recommendations have been addressed with the assistance of a special Country Services working group established to oversee the implementation of the recommendations.
“A total of 19 community paramedics will be recruited by St John Ambulance to help recruit, retain, train and support volunteers in priority regional areas, with Katanning, Manjimup, Esperance, Carnarvon, Wickham, Karratha, Wyndham, Merredin, Narrogin, and Broome (where two will be appointed) being first in line.”
The State government initiative will also see the appointment of 21 career paramedics in
the South-West, Goldfields, Kimberley, Pilbara, Mid-West, and the Wheatbelt over
the next four years.
“The work our St John Ambulance volunteers do in maintaining the safety and
wellbeing of our regional communities is invaluable and it is good to see them
being acknowledged and supported.”
