The Victorian Government has expressed full support for incoming Ambulance Victoria CEO Jordan Emery, despite concerns about ambulance response times during his leadership at Ambulance Tasmania.
Emery will assume the Victorian role in July following an eight-month global recruitment process.
He leaves Tasmania where ambulance response times in 2023-2024 averaged 14.9 minutes statewide and 15.2 minutes in Hobart, longer than Victoria’s 10.3-minute average.
Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas on Thursday expressed ‘absolute confidence’ in Emery.
“Mr Emery was chosen after an extensive search by the board of Ambulance Victoria. I’m very confident in their selection,” she said.
“We know that ambulance services are under incredible strain, but here in Victoria, we’ve put in place a number of additional pathways to reduce demand on our ambulance service.”
“Jordan brings with him a wealth of experience and he shares the commitment of the board and of myself to building the very best ambulance service right here in Victoria.”
The appointment comes at a critical juncture for Victoria’s ambulance service, which has faced its own performance challenges.
Emery, previously a senior executive with NSW Ambulance and recipient of the Ambulance Service Medal in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours, described his appointment as a “profound privilege”.
Tasmanian Health Minister Jacquie Petrusma praised Emery’s accomplishments during his three-year tenure, including overseeing the implementation of the state government’s ambulance ‘ramping ban’.
“[It] has been instrumental in getting our paramedics out of the hospital quicker and back into the community helping people where they belong,” she said.
“On top of that, he has driven the growth of staff and teams across various areas in Ambulance Tasmania and the completion of significant ambulance station upgrades including the superstations in Glenorchy and Burnie.”
Emery will replace interim chief Andrew Crisp, who stepped in after former CEO Jane Miller resigned following a vote of no confidence last August.
