By Mikayla van Loon
With hundreds of graduates filling positions across the state, Montrose Ambulance Station has welcomed some new recruits to its roster.
Caitlin McLaughlin is just one of 13 new paramedics to join the ranks in the Yarra Ranges having graduated from her degree in November last year.
“I feel pretty lucky that I’ve got a branch that’s reasonably close to home. Some people obviously get rural for their first year or six months,” she said.
“I know the area reasonably well, the hospitals and things from my previous job, so it’s a little bit easier not having to learn where the hospitals are and already knowing the lay of the land around this area.”
With a month already under her belt, Caitlin said she felt so welcomed by the crew and has really enjoyed her first interactions with patients, team members and that continued on the job learning.
“It’s exactly what I was expecting. Everyone’s super nice. I’ve had a mix of different people to work with. Everyone’s very welcoming, very accepting and very friendly towards graduates,” she said.
Working in non-emergency patient transport for two years, Caitlin said helped her feel more prepared for her role as a paramedic.
“Coming into here I was a bit more prepared than what I suppose some other graduates might be, just being familiar with the layout of an ambulance, the equipment and the radios.
“So that settled me in a bit easier and wasn’t so daunting. But in the way of learning things, every job is different so it’s just keeping on top of knowing what I’m doing and speaking to my partners and keeping up to date with things.”
As someone who always knew she wanted to be a paramedic from a very young age, Caitlin said the appeal came from the mix between being out and about in the community, helping people but also getting that down time to do paper work.
Caitlin will be stationed at Montrose for a year before potentially being moved to an area in need.
Although hoping, when the time comes, she gets to stay in the east, for Caitlin is just excited to learn more and is grateful for the opportunity to pursue her dream career.
“I wouldn’t change my job for the world. It’s everything I expected. It’s everything I wanted it to be. On the good days, on the bad days it’s a great job.”
