Copper Coast is set to become the first regional area in South Australia to host a 24-hour ambulance crew.

A team of 12 SA Ambulance Service career paramedics will begin operating from Moonta from Monday, July 14, before relocating to the Wallaroo Ambulance Station later this year once major upgrades at that site are complete.

The new crew will deliver 24/7 frontline care, working alongside existing volunteer and Regional Medical Transfer Service crews.

This enhancement of local ambulance coverage is part of a broader rollout of additional paramedics across Yorke Peninsula and the Upper Spencer Gulf during July.

Upgrades to the Wallaroo Ambulance Station include a new training room, meals area, workstation and study space, crew room, two personal wellbeing and restorative break rooms, a linen room and other improved amenities.

These enhancements will be supported by a 90-square-metre extension to the existing facility.

There will be no disruption to ambulance services during the upgrade period.

As well as the new 24-hour crew operating from Moonta, Wallaroo crews will be based at the SAAS Kadina Station and RMTS staff will continue to work from Wallaroo Hospital.

Member for Narungga Fraser Ellis welcomed the announcement, noting that the current volunteer-based ambulance model in regional areas was under significant strain.

“The 12 new paramedics will make an enormous difference in the Copper Coast region and beyond,” Mr Ellis said.

“It will ease the burden on volunteers and provide improved care to those in desperate need of emergency care.”

Minister for Health Chris Picton said the deployment of a 24/7 career paramedic crew to Wallaroo and surrounding communities marked a first for regional South Australia and, with the backing of the region’s existing RMTS and volunteer crews, would help ensure faster, more responsive care in the area.

SA Ambulance Service executive director of country operations Robert Tolson said the new staff would improve patient care and regional emergency capacity.

“These recruitments are a major milestone for the SA Ambulance Service,” Mr Tolson said.

“I want to thank our dedicated teams for their extraordinary effort in managing this expansion alongside our daily operations and ongoing projects.”

Wallaroo ambulance crews have responded to nearly 2000 incidents in 2024.

New community paramedic for YP

A new community paramedic will be deployed to Yorke Peninsula this month, providing local health and wellbeing support across the region from 9am to 5pm on weekdays.

Mr Tolson said the role would build on similar programs already in place in other regional towns.

“I’m particularly excited about the new community paramedic role for Yorke Peninsula,” Mr Tolson said.

“This role extends beyond emergency response to provide proactive healthcare — offering wellness checks, chronic disease management and health education.

“We’ve successfully implemented this program in Robe and Ceduna, and the positive impact on those communities has been remarkable.”

This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 8 July 2025.