General News
2 August, 2026
Living the paramedic dream
WITH a caring and compassionate disposition, Tara-Lee Boyce is well suited to the role of paramedic.
After spending three years as a critical care nurse at the Warrnambool Base Hospital, Tara-Lee longed to fulfil her lifelong dream of becoming a paramedic.
“I’ve always wanted to be a paramedic and while I did enjoy being a nurse it wasn’t my career goal,” she said.
“So I studied in Ballarat and joined AV (Ambulance Victoria) 15 years ago and haven’t looked back since.
“Every day comes with different challenges and rewards; we never know what the day is going to bring and to be able to help people at their most vulnerable is what I love most.
“Whether that be as simple as reassurance and transportation or administering lifesaving treatment, every call-out is as important as the last.”
With so much experience both on the road and in a hospital setting, Tara-Lee now has her sights set on becoming a paramedic practitioner – a role only recently introduced by Ambulance Victoria.
“A paramedic practitioner is a highly trained clinician capable of providing physician-level care in prehospital and community settings,” she explained.
“Along with my skills as a paramedic, I’m also training to be able to perform advanced interventions such as intubation and ventilation.
“As a practitioner I will also be able to carry out treatment in a patient’s home which may prevent the need for a trip to hospital which will also help ease the demand on our healthcare system.”
She is now halfway through the three year course and is enjoying the challenge.
Currently stationed at Warrnambool, Tara-Lee also loves the friendships she has formed among her colleagues – saying the station has become “like a family.”
“We all get along really well and I’m keen to continue working locally,” she said.
“This is home for me. We all really get around and support each other after a tough job which is nice.”
Last Friday, July 24, was ‘Thank a Paramedic Day’ in Victoria.
Leading the nation in cardiac arrest survival, Victorians can boast that their paramedics are among the best in the world.
Whether in the city, bush, snow or at sea, Ambulance Victoria’s range of highly skilled paramedics are equipped to respond to all emergencies, providing world-leading out of hospital emergency care to those who need it.
Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedics form the backbone of Ambulance Victoria’s clinical response, delivering emergency and community-based healthcare across the state.
They work alongside specialist Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedics who provide advanced critical care for patients experiencing major trauma, cardiac arrest, heart attacks and other life-threatening medical emergencies.
Air Ambulance Victoria’s fleet of helicopters and fixed-wing planes extend this care across the state through specialist ALS and MICA flight paramedics who are trained to perform retrievals in the most remote and hard to reach locations, so patients in regional and remote areas can access high-quality critical care regardless of location
Ambulance Victoria’s broader paramedic workforce also includes specialist communications, wilderness, motorcycle and bicycle paramedics, along with clinical leaders, educators, researchers and managers who support safe, evidence-based patient care.
Last Friday, (Thank A Paramedic Day) Ambulance Victoria recognised all the hardworking paramedics across our state who demonstrate extraordinary skill, compassion and resilience each day.
“From metropolitan Melbourne to regional and rural communities, Ambulance Victoria has a workforce of nearly 6000 dedicated and passionate paramedics,” Ambulance Victoria director paramedicine Associate Professor Ben Meadley said.
“Whether responding to life-threatening emergencies, caring for critically ill and injured patients, or helping people navigate complex health needs, our paramedics play a vital role in the Victorian health system.
“Our paramedics choose this career because they want to make a difference in their communities and care for people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
“While we never expect to be thanked for the job we do, days like Thank A Paramedic Day are a wonderful opportunity to connect with the community we serve.”
Thank a Paramedic Day is an annual event in Victoria to acknowledge and appreciate the dedication and service of paramedics across the state and the crucial role they play in providing pre-hospital emergency healthcare.
