Family ties inspire Colac paramedic to 20 year career at AV
December 16, 2024in Community News
Colac paramedic Anna McGennisken said it’s the comradery and a sense of service to the community that has kept her at Ambulance Victoria (AV) for 20 years.
Anna was honoured, along with a number of her colleagues, for career milestones, at AV’s recent Barwon South West Staff Service Awards.
It was family involvement in ambulance that drew Anna to becoming a paramedic.
“My uncle was a Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedic in the western suburbs,” she said.
Anna McGennisken at the AV Staff Service Awards.
“He essentially planted the seed – I was always intrigued by his work.
“Through him, I gained insight of what the job was about and I felt it was a good fit for me.
“My uncle ended up in a managerial role and wasn’t on-road when I started, so we never worked a shift together.
“But he was a great mentor and absolutely inspired me.”
Anna began her career as an Ambulance Community Officer (ACO) in Kyneton while completing her paramedicine degree.
ACOs are First Responders employed on a casual basis to work on-call and are trained to provide advanced first aid in rural and remote communities.
After graduating, she secured a job as a graduate paramedic in Wangaratta with Rural Ambulance Victoria.
Over her career, Anna spent almost a decade at Kilmore branch before moving to Colac about seven years ago.
“There are so many positive things about the job in Colac, but mainly it’s that we have an excellent team and that just makes going to work enjoyable,” she said.
“Kilmore was the same and I’m very grateful for that.”
Anna said it is the people she’s worked with and those she’s helped that are her favourite parts of being a paramedic.
“There’s a strong sense of service to the community, but there’s a lot to take out of it on a personal level from a comradery point of view,” she said.
“The long-lasting friendships that you make along the way has been one of the most enjoyable aspects of this career.
“As well as that, you are helping people in need, which is still rewarding for me 20 years down the track.”
Anna received her 20 year service medal at a ceremony in Geelong on 4 December, where paramedics and first responders from across the region were recognised for 10 to 35 years of service.