General News
6 April, 2026
Ambulance officer acknowledged for long-standing service
After 10 years with Ambulance Victoria (AV), Hopetoun Ambulance Community Officer (ACO) Team Leader Hayley Smith remains passionate about giving back to her community and inspiring others to do the same.
ACOs are First Responders employed on a casual basis to work “on call” in remote and rural communities where ambulance caseloads are low.
ACOs boost AV’s workforce capacity to respond quickly to emergencies.
They are trained to provide advanced first aid, support qualified paramedics, and transport patients to the hospital.
While some AV branches have an ACO and paramedic responding together, others, such as Hopetoun, are staffed by a two-person ACO crew.
Hayley joined the Hopetoun ACO team in 2016, inspired by one of her colleagues, who was also the Team Leader at the time.
“I had always looked up to my colleague for working with AV and performing that critical role in the community, but never thought I’d be able to do it myself,” Hayley said.
“Thankfully, I listened to her and signed up.
“Ten years on and I only wish I’d applied for the role sooner.”
While she was hesitant at first, Hayley said she soon realised how well supported ACOs are throughout the training process.
“The training was very reassuring, and once I started on the road, the people I worked with were amazing,” she said.
“My fellow ACOs have been the best mentors I could ask for. I’ve worked with some really knowledgeable people and it’s reassuring to know that you’ve always got someone by your side when responding to a case.
“The training is ongoing too, so we can continue to improve our clinical skills and knowledge.”
From cardiac arrests to road incidents, snake bites and falls, Hayley said being an ACO for your local community means you see it all.
“Being in a small community, you get to play a vital role in providing pre-hospital healthcare and can make a real difference to people you know,” she said.
“It can be hard work, but it’s reassuring knowing you can have a positive impact on the worst possible day of someone’s life.”
Over the years, Hayley has worked alongside ACOs from diverse backgrounds, including tradespeople, teachers, and truck drivers, showing that you don’t need to come from a medical profession to sign up.
For anyone thinking of joining the team, Hayley’s advice is “give it a go”.
“You gain useful personal skills from being an ACO, like increased confidence and the ability to communicate well in a variety of different situations,” she said.
“Every day is a new challenge, and it’s exciting not knowing what you’ll be thrown into.
“I’ve also become lifelong friends with the other ACOs, who I may not have ever met otherwise.
“After 10 years, I’m still enjoying it and can’t imagine stopping anytime soon.”
There are no distance restrictions on applying to be an ACO, but it is recommended that you live within 90 minutes of the branch where you’re stationed.
Find the application form and other details here:www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/careers/become-a-first-responder.