Excellence in Staff Development Statewide Mechanic Training Program

NSW Ambulance

Team: Ols Duerr-Reuther

NSW Ambulance has developed the Statewide Mechanic Training Program as an initiative in excellent staff development. The training program improves service, maintenance and repair training for the specialised staff entrusted with keeping the organisations 1721 ambulance vehicles and related equipment in top working order and allows these workers the opportunity to develop professionally.

The training program was developed in response to a NSW Health People Matters Employee Survey result which showed concern among mechanics that training, and vehicle maintenance was not consistent across the state. The NSW Ambulance Statewide Mechanic Training Program provides comprehensive training to every employed mechanic within a defined time to enable consistency of fleet vehicle knowledge and skills at a single point in time. Previously, the training only occurred at commencement of employment or ad hoc to communicate a change in vehicle manufacturer’s servicing requirements.

This program enhances the skills and knowledge of our mechanic workforce which is charged with the enormous task of keeping a fleet of more than 1700 vehicles operational and on the road, covering an area of more than 800,000sq kilometres.

The new training also enables mechanics based throughout metropolitan and regional NSW to meet each other in person, share information and create a value-adding team network that is providing ongoing peer support and knowledge sharing.

Feedback prior to the delivery of the training was that there needed to be better communication with mechanics on vehicle and equipment repairs and services, along with an overview of the build layouts for any new vehicle models. The training established a clear and consistent baseline of requirements and processes for all staff involving the servicing and repair of the Mercedes Sprinter ambulance and the Stryker and Ferno stretchers.

The training also provided an overview of the new Toyota 200 Series LandCruiser 4WD ambulance commensurate with the rollout of this new vehicle. The program was delivered over four days and facilitated to groups of no more than 12 to ensure strong team dynamics and input and understanding and hands-on experience throughout the session. Each participant completed a feedback survey at the end of the training, with 99 per cent of the total session-related training outcomes being viewed favourable by the training participants.