A qualified paramedic, Joey, has managed to stay in his hometown in rural Victoria, where he grew up. His local knowledge and community ties have helped him in his role. However, many new paramedics in Victoria face challenges finding jobs. Last year, over 800 students graduated with paramedicine degrees, but only 300 job placements were available in the state. This means new graduates are competing against experienced paramedics from across Australia.

Joey worked for two years as an ambulance community officer (ACO) before pursuing a paramedicine degree through distance education at an interstate university. He received a scholarship that eased his financial burden and allowed him to continue working in his community. Although he anticipated moving for a job, his scholarship included a clause from Ambulance Victoria, which stated it would "try and get people back from rural areas to support rural communities." "I've been very lucky to stay rural," Joey said.

According to the 2023-2024 Ambulance Victoria annual report, only 134 graduate paramedics were hired in Victoria during that financial year. Ambulance Victoria does not prioritize local graduates, seeking the most capable individuals from a diverse pool, including interstate and international candidates. The agency did not disclose how many interstate graduates it recruits annually.

Ambulance Services Minister Mary-Ann Thomas stated that recruitment is managed by Ambulance Victoria to ensure that the best-qualified individuals serve as paramedics in the state. Danny Hill, secretary of the Victorian Ambulance Union, expressed concern for graduates who remain on waiting lists, unable to maintain their skills. "It would be helpful if the likelihood of actually getting employment in [Victoria] was communicated to them earlier because often, they tell us that they weren't told they only take on 300 graduates a year," Hill said.

A spokesperson for Victoria University stated that the institution is transparent with students regarding employment opportunities. Hill also highlighted a retention issue within Ambulance Victoria's recruitment policy. He noted that hiring regional individuals for rural positions leads to better retention rates. "Straightaway as soon as a person who's grown up in Melbourne and lives in Melbourne is sent to a remote area, they want to [return to the city]," Hill said.

He suggested that training more ACOs from regional areas to become local paramedics would be beneficial. "It's better to find people that will actually work in those locations — it makes much more sense to do that rather than have someone come in from interstate," he said.

Joey emphasized that his local experience has equipped him to handle emergencies effectively in his rural town. "You already understand the lay of the land, you know where to go and where other crews are coming from," he said. He added that working in rural communities can be seen as a lifestyle choice. "If you don't want to do the lifestyle necessarily and you just want it to be a job, then you can just find another branch. I got to return back to where I kind of started and I'm still here three years later, which is nice."