General News
12 July, 2026
Lift for Ararat ambulance crews
ARARAT Ambulance Victoria Auxiliary has funded new patient lifting equipment for local paramedics, helping crews move patients more safely while reducing the risk of workplace injuries.
The auxiliary recently purchased a HoverMatt and HoverJack for the Ararat branch after local paramedics identified a need for the specialised equipment.
Ambulance Victoria acting Ararat team manager Anna Southby said crews had already used the equipment on numerous occasions.
“The new equipment allows us to safely lift patients while keeping them comfortable and helping us transport them to hospital in a reasonable timeframe,” she said.
“It is particularly valuable in rural areas where crews often work in small teams and extra assistance is not always immediately available.”
The HoverMatt is an inflatable transfer device that helps crews move patients without manual lifting, while the HoverJack inflates beneath patients to raise them safely to stretcher height.
Ms Southby said the equipment also helped reduce the risk of workplace injuries.
“Before having this equipment, we often had to borrow it from other agencies or wait for specialist ambulances to arrive,” she said.
Ararat Ambulance Victoria Auxiliary president Gwenda Allgood said members were pleased to support the local branch.
“When the branch explained the need for this equipment and the benefits it would provide for both patients and paramedics, we were more than happy to fund it,” she said.
The auxiliary has supported the Ararat branch for about 45 years, providing equipment, training resources and automated external defibrillators for the wider community through its fundraising efforts.
Ms Southby said the latest donation reflected the strong relationship between the auxiliary and local ambulance crews.
“The auxiliary’s ongoing support doesn’t go unrecognised, and we are deeply grateful for everything they do for our branch and our community,” she said.
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