THE ideal response target time of 15 minutes for 85 per cent for ambulances in Code 1 emergencies remains a pipe dream for regional municipalities, figures show.
Ambulance Victoria 2025/26 quarter 2 data shows the regional localities are falling well short of the mark.
In the Mitchell local government area, paramedics attended only 51.6 per cent of Code 1 patients within 15 minutes. The average response time was 18.33 minutes, and total number of first responses was 1000.
The figures show this was a deterioration from the quarter 4 for 2024-25, when ambulances attended 55 per cent of Code 1 patients, and the average was 17.14 minutes. In Code 2 cases, the average time was 45.40 minutes, and the total number was 588.
Code 1 relates to life-threatening time critical, and code 2 means urgent and acute cases.
Macedon Ranges fares no better in the quarter 2 data, with 58.7 per cent of Code 1 patients attended in 15 minutes. The average time was 16.53 minutes, and total number was 738. In Code 2, 41.19 minutes was the average response time, and the total was 487.
In quarter 3 of 2024-25, 60.2 per cent responses were in 15 minutes. The average was 16.6 minutes and the total was 601.
The Whittlesea LGA fared slightly better in the quarter 2 data, with 64.5 per cent responses in 15 minutes. The average time was 15.42 minutes and the total was 3686. For Code 2, the average time was 42.22 minutes and the total number was 1495.
In the Wallan major population centre, between October and December 2025, paramedics attended 64.2 per cent of Code 1 patients within 15 minutes – up from 55.3 per cent in the previous quarter. The average Code 1 response time decreased by 55 seconds.
AV authorities were asked for comments on the reasons for ambulances not coming any closer to the ideal target of 85 per cent in 15 minutes. But the Review was not provided any direct answer.
A spokesperson instead pointed to an old press release saying during the October to December quarter across Victoria, AV crews responded to 65.1 per cent of Code 1 cases within the statewide target of 15 minutes — up from 64.1 per cent in the previous quarter. The state-wide average response time to Code 1 emergencies was 15 minutes and 40 seconds — six seconds faster than the previous quarter.
State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland MP has called on the State Government to explain the continuing delays in ambulance response times in regional communities.
She said a formal parliamentary question asked in December 2025 remains unanswered months later.
In December last year, Ms Cleeland asked the Minister for Ambulance Services what specific actions the government would take to improve ambulance response times in regional communities.
She said despite the seriousness of the issue, the question remains unanswered.
“This is not a political game — it’s about life and death in our regional communities,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Families across our region deserve to know what the government is doing to ensure an ambulance arrives quickly when someone is experiencing a life-threatening emergency.”