Registration for the Perth County Paramedic Recruitment program is now open.
Applications to join the county's Paramedic Services Department will be accepted until March 8. Chris Keyser, Deputy Chief of Program Development, says every year they usually post for part-time paramedics to bring new paramedics in and help keep staffing levels stable.
"So our program really starts with the application process, so candidates will then come in and have a written test. Following that, we'll bring in a certain number of candidates for an interview and some skills testing, and then successful individuals will move on to our orientation process," Keyser shared.
Keyser says they post for new part-time paramedics every year to keep staffing levels healthy and look for new members to join their ranks, and this year is no different.
"So we're looking for about 15-20, and that's not a very fixed number, based on attrition rates and retirements and people going to work in other places. But that's roughly the kind of area we're trying to hit, somewhere between 15 and 20 people," said Keyser.
Recruitment is now, as Keyser puts it, a core function, especially after recovering from the pandemic and other situations contributing to staffing shortages.
"Recovering from those, recruitment is very vital to keeping paramedics here so we can staff our ambulances and provide safe, effective and responsive service to the public. So it is a core business function," Keyser pointed out. "Now we do augment that with different sorts of arrangements with colleges and we do bring students on and bring them through their consolidation period for their certification, and then those people are also invited to participate in our recruitment program."
You can find more information by visiting www.perthcounty.ca/paramedics and anyone interested in applying should visit www.perthcounty.ca/employment.
