A major milestone for Make Ready Service
Date published: 4 Mar 2026 Author: Ashleigh Prince
Make Ready Service officially becomes a permanent service in NSW Health
After 8 years of hard work and partnership with NSW Ambulance, Make Ready Service (MRS) has now been officially endorsed to become a permanent service in NSW Health.
Established in 2017 as a pilot, MRS was created to support frontline operations by taking on key non‑clinical tasks such as ambulance vehicle cleaning and readiness. The service has since expanded to 11 metropolitan stations, playing an essential role in keeping daily ambulance operations running smoothly.
The transition from a long running pilot to a fully embedded, business as usual service reflects years of effort to strengthen governance, standardise processes, improve performance reporting, and build a robust activity-based costing model. This solid foundation positions MRS for long-term, sustainable delivery.
Formalising the service also recognises the close partnership between MRS and NSW Ambulance. In 2025 alone, MRS completed more than 62,000 ambulance vehicle cleans, contributing directly to faster vehicle turnaround times and increased availability during peak demand periods. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with paramedics rating their experience with the service an impressive 9.6 out of 10 in the most recent Paramedic Survey.
Shubjeet Kaur, Executive Director of Operations at HealthShare NSW, said the decision to solidify MRS reflects the maturity and impact of the service:
‘Formalising MRS as a permanent service is a significant milestone for NSW Health. It demonstrates the value of the service, the quality of its operations, and the strength of the partnership with NSW Ambulance. Most importantly, it highlights how our teams contribute, together, to safer, more efficient and patient-centred care. Thank you to everyone who played a part in this achievement.’ Shubjeet Kaur
Peter Elliott, Executive Director of Corporate Services at NSW Ambulance, said the move marks the next chapter in a longstanding partnership:
‘MRS commenced as a pilot during the early phase of the Sydney Ambulance Metropolitan Infrastructure Strategy (SAMIS) and has steadily developed into an important support service for frontline paramedics. Transitioning from a pilot to a business model strengthens our partnership with HealthShare NSW as we continue to innovate and grow our success in Make Ready Services.’ Peter Elliott
Joel Bardsley, Director of Patient Transport Service (PTS), said the achievement is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of the MRS team.
‘This milestone reflects years of hard work and commitment from every member of MRS. You’ve built a service that frontline clinicians rely on every day, and you should be incredibly proud of the impact you make.’ Joel Bardsley
Joel added that the milestone is a shared achievement across both MRS and PTS:
‘Whether you’re in MRS or PTS, we all contribute to the same goal: partnering with NSW Ambulance and supporting patients. Every clean, every trip, every handover, it all plays a part in helping patients receive timely, safe, and high quality care. Thank you for the work you do, and for the way you support each other.’ Joel Bardsley
With permanent status now confirmed, the focus shifts to strengthening operations, enhancing consistency, and continuing to support NSW Ambulance as demand grows.
‘I’m proud to lead such a dedicated group of people,’ Joel said. ‘This is a significant milestone, and I’m excited to see what we achieve next.’
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