Victorian Triple Zero operators to gain AI advantage

The Victorian Government has announced $1.36 million in funding for a new artificial intelligence initiative that will assist the state’s Triple Zero (000) call-takers to identify callers showing signs of cardiac arrest.

The AI system will monitor calls and pick up on keywords, sound patterns and language used by the caller that might indicate the person is having a cardiac arrest.

If the system indicates a possible cardiac arrest, the operator can dispatch a high-priority ambulance or even speak with bystanders and talk them through CPR or defibrillation procedures.

The technology will be developed by Ambulance Victoria and Monash University.

A second $350,000 project will give emergency callers with mental health-related problems the option to use SMS to initiate a video call.

The ‘Tele-HELP’ project will facilitate video calls with a mental health nurse, who will assess the person. The idea is to avoid unnecessary trips to hospital in an ambulance following a standard 000 call, and thereby avoid delays in receiving face-to-face mental health support.

The two projects are being funding by the state government’s Safer Care Victoria Innovation Fund.

“We are always looking for new, cutting-edge ways to innovate and deliver the very best and safest care — because all Victorians deserve access to world-class treatment when they need it most, no matter where they live,” said Victoria’s Minister for Health, Jenny Mikakos.

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