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25 Jun 2008

Board and CEO of Ambulance Victoria announced

The new statewide ambulance service, Ambulance Victoria, became closer to reality today with the announcement of the organisations Chair, Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors.

Ambulance Victoria officially commences service on Tuesday 1 July, 2008 and will be led under the management of Marika McMahon as Board Chair and Greg Sassella as Chief Executive Officer.

Ms McMahon is a partner in Bendigo law firm O’Farrell, Robertson McMahon and Chair of Bendigo Healthcare Group. She was the 2001 Telstra Young Business Woman of the Year, holds a Bachelor of Arts and Law from Monash University and was a Director of Rural Ambulance Victoria.

‘I am very passionate about the benefits of living in a regional community,’ Ms McMahon said.

‘I am privileged to be able to serve as Chair of Ambulance Victoria and look forward to ensuring that the same high standard of emergency care is available to all Victorians no matter where they live.

‘We recognise the trust the community put in our paramedics and we will ensure that the trust continues to be well founded. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of professional care that pur people provide to their patients.

Mr Sassella started as a paramedic in 1983, including working as a MICA flight paramedic serving both rural and metropolitan communities. He has spent the past seven years as Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Ambulance Service and holds an Executive Masters of Business Administration qualification and is Deputy Chair of the national Council of Ambulance Authorities and a Director of the Emergency Services Foundation.

‘Having worked as a paramedic I know the challenges faced by our paramedics whether as part of air or road ambulance responsibilities, and having been CEO for 7 years now, I know how to apply that experience to develop the new service’ Mr Sassella said.

‘This is an opportunity for paramedics right across the state to share knowledge, clinical skills, funding and resources so that there is more help for them and more care for the community.

‘This announcement today shows that the new service is all about caring equally for all Victorians. It is all about working together for better ambulance care for all,’ Mr Sassella said.