Two years after a government review, frontline workers are still picking up the slack — and the State Budget offers no relief.

The Victorian Ambulance Union (VAU) has issued a strong response to the 2025–26 State Budget, criticising the Government’s failure to deliver long-promised reforms to the Non-Emergency Patient Transport (NEPT) system. Despite a formal review and repeated commitments, the budget did not include any action to improve the struggling sector.

NEPT is responsible for transporting non-urgent patients between facilities, helping to free up emergency ambulance crews. But with over 20,000 non-emergency cases going unattended by private NEPT contractors each year, emergency paramedics are increasingly being diverted from critical calls.

“Paramedics end up doing patient transport instead of responding to emergencies,” said Danny Hill, Secretary of the Victorian Ambulance Union.

The VAU has been pushing for reforms since 2022, including better conditions for Patient Transport Officers and a plan to bring NEPT services back under the Ambulance Victoria umbrella. A 2023 review, commissioned by the Government, backed these reforms — but two years on, there has been no investment and no implementation.

Private NEPT contractors continue to fall short, particularly in regional areas, leaving emergency crews overstretched and under-resourced.

“There are over 20,000 NEPT cases each year that can’t be resourced by private contractors,” said Hill.

“Three years later we are still waiting for the Government to deliver on its promise.”

The failure to act, despite clear recommendations from the Government’s own review, raises serious concerns about the ability to respond to growing demand on the health system — and the strain it puts on those working on the frontlines.

📄 Read the full VAU media release here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CDEMZuZuq/