An ageing workforce is contributing to a massive shortage of emergency care workers in the Australia state of Victoria, including ambulance drivers, paramedics, critical care co-ordinators, transport officers, retrieval physicians and station officers.

According to the Sunday Herald Sun newspaper, “Victoria’s ambulance service has been hit by a workforce exodus with more than two staff members a week quitting important metropolitan and rural posts.” 

In the past two years, at least 213 Ambulance Victoria staff members have left their positions. Additionally, reports the Sunday Herald Sun, “Paramedics are leaving the service in droves, with 161 quitting in Victoria and more than 100 in Melbourne between November 2007 and last October 31.”

Among those who have resigned in the last two years, nearly 30 had more than 20 years’ job experience, making their departures a critical blow to Ambulance Victoria’s workforce, though the organisation has recruited nearly 535 new staff members over the same period of time, resulting in a net gain.