Unveiled: new design for Centre of Excellence in Paramedicine

The Centre of Excellence is an Australian first - based at Victoria University’s Sunshine Campus, with images of the innovative new space being unveiled today. 

Jointly funded by the Victorian Government and Victoria University, the CoEP was co-designed by students, staff, Ambulance Victoria, industry, and well-known architects, Architectus. 

It will take paramedicine education in Australia to a new level, creating a skilled, innovative paramedic workforce ready to deliver better health outcomes for the community. 

The new Centre will feature state-of-the-art technology and dynamic simulation spaces, including a new pavilion that helps students experience real-world scenarios such as transferring patients to emergency departments.  

Minister for Ambulance Services, the Hon Mary-Anne Thomas was joined by VU Chancellor the Hon Steve Bracks and representatives from Ambulance Victoria, students and staff for an exclusive look at the co-designed, state-of-the art simulation spaces, along with training and research facilities. 

The Centre of Excellence in Paramedicine is an Australian first - it is all about giving our paramedics the best possible start to their career, with real world training in a world-class facility.”   

“We're investing $10 million to establish the centre to make sure our paramedics are prepared for the pressures of dealing with an emergency when they hit the road.” 

VU is a leader in paramedicine education and has one of the largest TAFE programs in emergency healthcare and non-emergency patient transport in Australia. 

“This Centre has been designed by our students, for our students, and will set a new benchmark in paramedicine teaching and learning for generations to come,” Mr Bracks said. 

“With our partnership with Ambulance Victoria, and as a dual-sector institution providing both vocational training and higher education, VU is well-place to create a stronger, more cohesive paramedicine learning alignment.” 

The first joint Ambulance Victoria and Victoria University research project as part of the CoEP was also announced at today’s event, which will harness artificial intelligence to model ways to build greater efficiencies between ambulances and hospital emergency departments. 

Lead researcher Associate Professor Khandakar Ahmed will develop a tool that will forecast ambulance offload delays and optimise routing decisions. 

“We hope the outcome of this project will reduce delays, save lives and provide evidence-based policy guidance to transform emergency healthcare in Victoria and beyond. We are proud to be working with Ambulance Victoria on this much-needed project,” Associate Professor Ahmed said. 

Tori has just finished a Bachelor of Paramedicine after pathwaying through TAFE (Certificate in Non-Emergency Patient Transport and a Diploma of Emergency Health Care). She said the new CoEP will be an incredible learning space. 

“The Centre of Excellence will completely elevate the student experience. The new state-of-the-art simulation spaces will provide opportunity for clinical exposure you might not get on placement. And for working paramedics, the research and continued professional development that will be available will make such a difference to the profession,” Tori said. 

The CoEP is scheduled to open in 2026.