This week, we have been lucky enough to welcome Dr Louise Reynolds PhD as Victoria’s first female Chief Paramedic Officer (CPO) of Victoria. Dr Reynolds replaces Victoria’s inaugural CPO, A/Prof Alan Eade ASM who has held the position since April 2017.
Dr Reynolds was Australia’s first female paramedic to complete a doctoral degree in paramedicine with a study of ambulance service organisational culture. She is dedicated to advancing gender and cultural equity in the workforce and to championing greater integration of paramedics in primary healthcare.
In her role as CPO, Dr Reynolds will be the state’s principal adviser on quality and safety matters relating to paramedicine, providing professional leadership and direction within the sector. She will also have responsibility for the development and implementation of policies, partnerships, and improvement initiatives to support the provision of safer, more effective, and better integrated patient care.
Dr Reynolds brings comprehensive local and international experience in paramedicine to the CPO role. She has embraced university teaching, where she has been praised for her curriculum development and strong communications skills, and she has conducted extensive research, leading her recognition by the Australasian College of Paramedicine as a Fellow for research contribution.