Former top Ambulance Victoria official tells parliamentary inquiry placing agency in administration is the only way to improve

A former top Ambulance Victoria official has told a parliamentary inquiry that placing the embattled agency into administration is the only way to improve record low performance levels and improve its toxic culture.

A former top Ambulance Victoria official has called for the embattled service to be placed into administration.

Former executive director of clinical operations, Mick Stephenson, said a parliamentary inquiry into the agency it was the only way to improve record low performance levels.

He also raised concerns about a toxic culture within the service, issues around performance times and transparency, rostering and the alleged misuse of public funds.

He told the Legislative Council’s Legal and Social Issues Committee that placing the agency into administration would lead to urgently needed improvements.

Mr Stephenson said the last time the Ambulance Victoria was placed into administration – in 2014 after Labor was returned to government – led to a golden period for the agency.

“It is the most effective time I have ever seen in ambulance – just good-quality leadership and straightening the organisation up to focus on its priorities,” he said.

“I think it has clearly lost its way at the moment.”

Mick Stephenson has called for the embattled service to be placed into administration. Picture: Luke Costin

Latest data shows just 65.6 per cent of Code 1 call-outs are being attended within the 15-minute target – well short of the 85 per cent benchmark.

Long delays for ambulances led to two known deaths last month, an elderly man was left to bleed out and die after a fall, and a mother of two who died during a fatal standoff between paramedics and police.

“Right at this present time Ambulance Victoria has experienced record low-level performance, the worst it has ever been since its inception,” Mr Stephenson said.

“If you go back to 2018–19, Ambulance Victoria met its KPIs for the first time in its history. There was something significant at that time in terms of the performance into 2018–19.

“There was significant investment into ambulance, granted, but the set-up of ambulance at the time, the establishment of the executive, the establishment of the organisation in terms of the way it worked and what it focused on – and it did focus very much on patient care and care of staff.

Latest data shows just 65.6 per cent of Code 1 call-outs are being attended within the 15-minute target. Picture: Ambulance Union Victoria

“That was after Ambulance Victoria had had a period of administration … I would say to you that is the most effective I have ever seen the place function.”

Mr Stephenson – who left the service in 2023 after unsubstantiated claims of inappropriate behaviour were levelled at him – said the current service needed urgent intervention.

“It certainly lost its way subsequent to that time,” he said.

“What I would say to you is that is a significant failing of leadership, and I cannot see that what is being done at the moment is going to fix that in any way.

“I do not see anyone in the organisation who has the capacity to lead major organisational change or to lead through a time of significant disruption.”

Mr Stephenson made the comments during a closed hearing of the parliamentary inquiry, transcripts of which were published this week.

And he said he made no criticism of government, arguing it properly funded the service.

“The people that I have worked with in government have been very capable and competent, particularly the ministers that I have worked with,” he said.

Long delays for ambulances led to two known deaths last month. Picture: Wayne Taylor

“If you talk to people inside the organisation they will say it is in its worst ever state. I am not sure it has got anything to do with government.

“I think it has got to do with the organisation. Government funds the organisation appropriately.

“The organisation is funded to do its work. It is up to it to do its work, not the government to do the work.”

Former Ambulance Victoria state health commander and director of emergency management, Paul Holman, spent more than four decades in the service he said had turned “toxic”.

“If you read any organisational manuscript and you read the description of a toxic workplace, unfortunately, it certainly is at the moment,” he told the committee.

“Over my 40 years I have seen this before. It is a toxic workplace. It is usually individuals, usually about power, usually about maintaining their position and particularly, if you like, beholding to the government of the day.”

New CEO, Jordan Emery, acknowledged Mr Stephenson’s service to the agency.

“We respect that he has shared his opinion in a personal submission to the Inquiry, based on his past experience,” he said.

“Today, Ambulance Victoria is moving forward with new leadership and an organisation of people who are dedicated and committed to delivering the best possible care for all Victorians – and I’m proud to lead them.”

Originally published as Former top Ambulance Victoria official tells parliamentary inquiry placing agency in administration is the only way to improve