Indigo Shire Ambulance Victoria response times continue to take a turn for the worse, with responses to code one emergencies blowing out by more than a minute on average. The latest quarterly statistics released last week indicate AV responded to a yearly record of 205 ‘light and sirens’ emergencies in the shire from April to the end of June this year, arriving within the optimal 15 minutes 22 per cent of the time. The shire’s response rate within the 15-minute threshold was the second worst in the state behind Yarriambiack Shire, despite a minor .2 per cent improvement on last quarter. Average response times to code one emergencies sat at 25.17 minutes, an increase of 1.34 minutes on the previous quarter and the slowest average response time recorded this past year. This time last year paramedics were arriving on scene of code one emergencies within 15 minutes 33.8 per cent of the time and had an average response time four and a half minutes faster than the latest quarterly average. Across the Hume region, AV crews responded to 5503 code one cases between April and June 2025, down from 5623 last year, but up from 5451 three months ago. The biggest improvements in the region were in the Moira, Mansfield, Strathbogie and Greater Shepparton LGAs and the major population centre of Kilmore. In the Moira LGA, paramedics attended 55 per cent of code one patients within 15 minutes – up from 46.6 per cent a year ago. The average response time in Wangaratta of 15.18 minutes is the best since 14.31 in July to September last year. In the major population centre of Kilmore, paramedics attended 72.2 per cent of code one patients within 15 minutes – up from 67.9 per cent a year ago. In the Mansfield LGA, paramedics attended 44.3 per cent of code one patients within 15 minutes – up from 38 per cent a year ago. Compared with a year ago, code one response times decreased by 55 seconds in the Greater Shepparton LGA and 39 seconds in the Strathbogie LGA. AV is urging people not to be complacent, with demand for emergency ambulances climbing again as winter illnesses spread through the community. “We’ve already seen a 3.7 per cent jump in code one demand since the first three months of 2025,” Hume regional director Narelle Capp said. “Winter is always our busiest time. "Our paramedics are focused on reaching the sickest patients first, but every day more than 500 calls to Triple Zero (000) don’t need an emergency ambulance. “There are many options people can access when they need timely medical care and health advice but don’t need an emergency ambulance, including the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department and Urgent Care Clinics. “Our expert Secondary Triage team - made up of nurses and paramedics - plays a vital role by connecting people with the right care and freeing up ambulances for life-threatening emergencies. "Between April and June alone, they redirected 46,015 non-urgent cases away from an emergency response.” Ms Capp said Ambulance Victoria is working closely with hospitals, emergency services and government partners to keep ambulances on the road and patients moving through the system. “The new Standards for Safe and Timely Ambulance and Emergency Care are already making a difference by improving patient flow in hospitals and helping our crews get back on the road sooner,” Ms Capp said. “We’re grateful to our hospital partners for their efforts...it’s helping us reach more patients, faster."
