The Ambulance Community Officer (ACO) is a casually employed Officer (maximum of 20 hour per week employment), and is used to provide an advanced level of first aid to areas where:
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Response of an Ambulance staffed by full time Paramedics to that area is significant, but the area is isolated & of extremely low workload (below 150 cases per year), therefore making the establishment of a full-time Ambulance Station not economically viable. or
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A full time Paramedic is stationed at a branch without a rostered second full time Paramedic, and the ACO assists the full time Officer on an individual case requirement basis.
A present AV has over 30 ACO branches staffed by approximately 500 Officers.
ACOs undertake an initial 50 hour training program covering topics including cardiology, respiratory, trauma & medical emergencies, and are required to perform 30 hours of ongoing training each year.
ACOs are able to perform the following advanced skill:
- Automatic Defibrillation
ACOs are able to administer the following medications:
- Anginine (for cardiac chest pain)
- Aspirin (for cardiac chest pain)
- Penthrane (for pain)
- Salbutamol (for asthma)
