12 2016
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REGULARS From the President 05 States of Activity 08 Contacts 24
Cover photo: United Voice WA Secretary Carolyn Smith
VOLUME 6 ISSUE 2 2016
Ambulance Active Official Publication of National Council of Ambulance Unions
PUBLISHER Ambulance Active is published by Countrywide Austral. Countrywide Austral adheres to stringent ethical advertising practices and any advertising inquiries should be directed to:
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FEATURES Registration update – 06 Paramedic November 2016 panel oversight 12 Independent report 14 NCAU National Conference 16 Annual conference wrap-up 18 No excuse for abuse 20 FWT report revealed 21 Healthy ambos save lives 22 Occupational violence research
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18 Disclaimer: Countrywide Austral (“Publisher”) advises that the contents of this publication are at the sole discretion of the National Council of Ambulance Unions and the publication is offered for background information purposes only. The publication has been formulated in good faith and the Publisher believes its contents to be accurate, however, the contents do not amount to a recommendation (either expressly or by implication) and should not be relied upon in lieu of specific professional advice. The Publisher disclaims all responsibility for any loss or damage which may be incurred by any reader relying upon the information contained in the publication whether that loss or damage is caused by any fault or negligence on the part of the publisher, its directors and employees. Copyright: All advertisements appearing in this publication are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced except with the consent of the owner of the copyright. Advertising: Advertisements in this journal are solicited from organisations and businesses on the understanding that no special considerations other than those normally accepted in respect of commercial dealings, will be given to any advertiser.
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18/07/2016 1:28 pm
PRESIDENT
STEVE McGHIE, PRESIDENT, NCAU
the PRESIDENT OUR ANNUAL NCAU CONFERENCE was again a great success this year, with a host of knowledgeable speakers and a group of passionate members who are eager to work together for the benefit of all paramedics and ambulance workers in Australia. Held in Hobart, this year had a strong theme of mental health issues for paramedics and ambulance employees. One issue that has been formally raised in Victoria is a submission to government for presumptive legislation for members suffering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I would like to thank Tim Peck from beyondblue and Professor Tony McHugh from Melbourne University for contributing to the conference. Our competition winner this year was Bracha Rafeal from Victoria. Bracha’s report on the conference has been published on page 16 of this edition. We agreed that collectively the NCAU will set a National Charter for all ambulance employers to reduce mental health issues in our Ambulance services. This will be shared with members soon.
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“Each state’s input into the NCAU has been
exceptional this year. I know that over the years, we have all benefitted through sharing information and assisting each other. This will continue to produce better outcomes for members.
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It has certainly been a busy year. Each state union has had an exceptional workload—bargaining, campaigning and representing members. Congratulations to all who have lobbied and assisted with achieving an agreement between all states to commence National Professional Registration for paramedics. The commencement date is proposed to be September 2018. Each state’s input into the NCAU has been exceptional this year. I know that over the years, we have all benefitted through sharing information and assisting each other. This will continue to produce better outcomes for members.
Congratulations to paramedics in the Northern Territory and ACT, who were able to influence the outcome of their state elections. In NSW, HSU members have kept pressure on the Baird Government about the changes to their Death and Disability scheme that they now have a paramedic representative on the Premier’s Working Group to resolve the dispute. These are examples of the power and the influence paramedics can have on Federal and State politics. From myself and the Executive of the NCAU I wish to extend to all our members and families a very Merry Christmas and a safe New Year. See you in 2017.
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HEADER PARAMEDIC REGISTRATION
PARAMEDIC REGISTRATION UPDATE – NOVEMBER 2016 By Jim Arneman NCAU Project Officer – Paramedic Registration
ON 7 OCTOBER 2016, THE COAG Health Ministers Forum issued the following communiqué:
NATIONAL REGISTRATION FOR PARAMEDICS Health Ministers agreed to proceed with amendments to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (the National Law) that will bring paramedics into the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) for the health professions, alongside 14 other regulated health professions. Ministers noted that issues concerning the implementation of the recommendations of the NRAS Review, the scope of the paramedic workforce, and the recognition of vocational as well as tertiary pathways for registration as a paramedic have been satisfactorily addressed. A draft amendment bill is expected to be brought forward to Ministers for approval early in 2017, with a view these being brought to the Queensland Parliament in 2017. The Western Australian Parliament is also expected to consider legislative changes to the Western Australian National Law. With the agreement of Ministers that paramedics will be registered in all jurisdictions, it was noted that the draft amendment bill will not require the inclusion of an opt‑in mechanism. Ministers noted that the Final report – Options for Regulation of Paramedics September 2016 has been published on the COAG Health Council website.
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This communiqué is in effect the official green light for the inclusion of paramedics into the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS), an historic day for our profession. Members will be well aware that the NCAU has been diligently pursuing registration on behalf of our members since our inception over a decade ago. We have collaborated closely with Paramedics Australasia along the way. It would be fair to say that our two organisations have been the major forces behind bringing this achievement into reality.
As noted in the communiqué, the Final report – Options for Regulation of Paramedics September 2016, has also just been finalised. It can be accessed on the COAG Health Council website here at http://www.coaghealthcouncil. gov.au/Publications/Reports. Interestingly, this report appears to draw heavily on much of the evidence, including arguments presented by NCAU, at the Australian Senate Inquiry into Paramedic Registration held earlier this year. Several NCAU representatives also presented face to face evidence at the Inquiry, which was convened by Senator Glen Lazarus. It is pleasing to note that there will be no AMBULANCE ACTIVE
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‘opt‑in’ provisions, ensuring that this is a truly national scheme. What this translates into on the ground will be monitored closely by all stakeholders. Where to from here? There is still some way to go! The next step will be to finalise changes to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (the National Law). These amendments will formalise inclusion of paramedics into the NRAS. NCAU is strongly represented on the Paramedic Registration National Stakeholder Reference Group, which is providing high level advice on the implementation of registration. The convenor of this group has already been in touch and advised that AMBULANCE ACTIVE
a meeting will be convened in February 2017 to review the exposure draft of the legislative amendments. Once consultation has been held on the legislative changes, they will be forwarded to the COAG Health Ministers and eventually finalised for enactment. The National Law model will see the Queensland Parliament enact the National Law, hopefully in around August 2017. All other states and territories will then pass legislation that mirrors the Queensland Act, bringing the law into effect in all jurisdictions. In the interim, preparations will begin for the establishment of the Australian
Paramedicine Board to oversee the registration process. This cannot be formalised until the legislation is enacted in all jurisdictions. The intention still is that registration will commence in late 2018. This is broadly in line with the original timetable. NCAU will continue to engage in this process on behalf of our constituent members, ensuring our interests are represented and keep everyone informed of progress. Congratulations to all involved on the achievement of this historic milestone! For more information please contact Jim Arneman via email, jim.arneman@act.gov.au
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South Australia SA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION (RETURN TO WORK) ACT In 2015 the SA Government introduced a new Workers’ Compensation Act, which it said was designed to get workers back to work as a priority (hence the name). The new Act has some harsh provisions that ‘dump’ workers after two years unless they have a significant impairment (30 per cent a nigh-on impossibility). The Ambulance Employees Association (ASA) SA, together with the United Firefighters Union (UFU), have been in negotiations with the Attorney-General since January 2016 in an effort to get exemption for ambulance and firefighting officers from the two-year income limit (and 12-month limit on medicals). In an attempt to defuse the issue, the Government made an offer to all public sector unions for an extension to these provisions through to the end of 2018. This offer included an eligibility clause that has no relevance in any ambulance or a firefighting setting, and is so restrictive that it would be unlikely that any worker could access it. The AEA and UFU’s previous submission to the Government clearly outlined the eligibility criteria we saw as applicable to our respective workplaces, which the current offer completely disregarded. It appears our Government is having difficulty accepting that emergency services workers are different from other workers as a result of being exposed to higher than normal risks in the course of their duties. Negotiations are continuing as we aim to get the clause we seek inserted in our Enterprise Agreement.
ENTERPRISE BARGAINING (EB) We are going for a world record for protracted EB negotiations as it has been well over a year now. Finally, frustration from the AEA and our members reached a point where we needed to bring it to a head so we issued the following ultimatum (summary provided following).
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“We need to add another element to these negotiations – good will. Our members have run out of it and so have we: • Members are copping demand increases that outstrip their ability to cope – late meal break and knocking off on time performance are deplorable – a disaster, and this has been going on for years. • SA Ambulance Service’s (SAAS) issue with overtime is of their own making – a service delivery model that relies on significant extra hours worked by our members. • The part-time overtime issue is only an issue because of SAAS’s irresponsible failure to match resources to demand – again an issue of years standing. • You say you want a bit of ‘give’ from the AEA – well SAAS have been ‘taking’ from our members by squeezing them dry – and members have been giving their all to make the system work despite SAAS and SA Health, not because of them. Frankly members have had a gutful of the bulls**t – they feel it is well and truly time to take the gloves off. Members’ anger is at unprecedented levels. They are no longer up for cooperation, and that will be reflected by the AEA – we will withdraw from cooperation across the board. Beware, we are at most dangerous if backed against the wall…we come out fighting.” We have been advised that an offer is now being prepared that is much more likely to be accepted by our members.
RECRUITING DRIVE SA Ambulance has received funding for more than 100 new paramedics to deal with unfilled vacancies and staff increases to deal with changes to the health system. The new staff will be drawn from university graduates and interstate or overseas qualified paramedics. The new staff will be needed to help deal with the burgeoning workload but will not touch the sides of the demands created by a ‘transformed’ health system. We campaigned publically for the new staff that are coming, but we will need to keep campaigning for more crews before next winter.
Tasmania THE AMBULANCE TASMANIA 2016 EBA has been voted on, approved and implemented! It wasn’t quite an easy road, though. We were surprised when the State Government rejected the deal that was completed in February 2016 on the basis that it was outside the Government’s Wages Policy, presumably because of the inclusion of an additional pay point and a ‘sign-on’ bonus which was to offset the removal of some entitlements. In response to this ridiculous decision, HACSU members took industrial action by running a short but punchy campaign. Ambos wrote on their ambulances in chalk pens and caused a media uproar. We kept up the pressure with help from the community and we won – receiving a revised offer that was even better than February’s deal. The new agreement provides for full back pay of 2 per cent annual wage rises to December 2014 and December 2015; it also improves terms and conditions in relation to rosters and improves access to meal breaks for our members. The first 2 per cent pay rise backdated to 2014 was not part of what was agreed in February 2016. This EBA is a big step in the right direction, and bargaining for our next EBA is due to commence in late 2017. Other projects underway include: • Wellness program implementation, which includes better peer support and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) mechanisms • Presumptive Post Traumatic Stress Disorder recognition under WorkCover legislation • Fatigue management programs • Improved resourcing through better data analysis • Reviews of specialist tasks such as rescue and air ambulance resources • Improvements to operational equipment, including uniforms, ambulance stations, vehicles and clinical equipment • Reducing hospital ramping • Improvements in training, monitoring and improving/reviewing individual technical skills AMBULANCE ACTIVE
• improvements to volunteer officer education processes • ESCAD Project (statewide multi-agency dispatching) – HACSU is keen to ensure that AT personnel and specific issues are not lost within this multi-agency project. We proudly hosted the 2016 NCAU conference and there was a lot of work done behind the scenes with HACSU office staff rising to the challenge and helping the NCAU deliver a fabulous conference.
Victoria OPERATIONAL MEMBERS RECEIVED the final tranche of their work value wage increase on 1 December 2016. The new weekly rate of pay for an ALS Year 6 paramedic will be $1,876.90 and $2,126.15 for a MICA Year 6. The Ambulance Employees Association Victoria (AEAV) is party to the Ambulance Victoria Management and Administrative (Staff) Agreement and negotiations are ongoing. A wage offer has been proposed but it is insufficient to address the wage relativity between the AMPA managers and the paramedics they supervise. In the private sector, St John and Wilsons Medic One are refusing to meet with the AEAV to commence negotiations for inaugural enterprise agreements. This means that the AEAV will have to exercise its rights under the Fair Work Act and seek majority support determinations from the Fair Work Commission to force the employers to the table. ESTA, in conjunction with Deloitte, is undertaking a review into its future operations and an interim report has been received. AMBULANCE ACTIVE
The AEAV and the Police Association in Victoria are campaigning for the State Government to pass legislation, which would mean that WorkCover claims for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder would automatically be accepted by the insurer without the employee bearing the onus of proof. The benefit of such a scheme would be a quicker return to work for claimants as they would not have to expend so much time and energy fighting the system for appropriate medical treatment.
New South Wales NSW PARAMEDICS HAD A PROTECTION scheme known as the Death & Disability Award, which came into effect in 2008. This scheme covered paramedics both on and off duty for injuries and illness as well as death. In 2015, the Ministry of Health identified that the cost of the scheme via insurance premiums being paid were going to breach the mandatory trigger for review contained within the award. A significant factor was due to the amount of claims (NSW Ambulance has one of the highest injury rates for paramedics in Australia). As such the insurer raised the premiums in excess of 200 per cent making the scheme untenable. After 18 months of negotiations with the Ministry of Health, we were unable to resolve a number of outstanding issues and the matter went before the IRC NSW.
The Ministry of Health were successful in having the Death & Disability scheme replaced by an ‘off the shelf’ two-year income protection policy, which reduces paramedics’ coverage by up to 75 per cent. Paramedics across NSW were outraged by the changes leaving them and their families exposed. Members launched the Zero1Code1 https://www.facebook. com/01code1/ campaign. Paramedics began reaching out to their local MPs seeking assistance to ensure that they received adequate protection for the role we undertake similar to what has been offered to NSW Police and Fire and Rescue NSW. Paramedics used liquid chalk to mark up their vehicles, calling on the NSW Premier to intervene and highlighting to their communities which local MPs weren’t supporting their paramedics. Traction grew with communities throughout NSW as the public began joining paramedics calling for a fairer system. More MPs began to come out in support of the need for an adequate protection scheme for paramedics. Finally, the NSW Premier met with a large delegation of HSU members at Parliament House giving them his assurance that his government will intervene and look at alternative models for coverage, that anyone injured after the commencement of the current scheme would be covered under the Government’s ‘new’ model once finalised, and that there would be further investment to reduce paramedic injury rates. Paramedics are now waiting to see if the NSW Premier delivers those expectations in a planned announcement on 31 January 2017. Yet another demonstration of how powerful a motivated member-driven campaign can be.
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Queensland WAGE REMUNERATION INQUIRY After 18 months of lobbying the State Government, the Cabinet Budget Review Committee finally announced its support into co-funding a Remuneration Inquiry into pay and conditions for all Queensland Ambulance Officers. It’s hoped that this inquiry will re-assess and re-value the work of Queensland ambulance officers with their counterparts interstate and in comparable professions. With the Ambulance Enterprise Agreement expiring 1 October 2016, United Voice State Council agreed that negotiations would not occur until after the conclusion of the inquiry. In the interim, a 2.5 per cent pay increase was sought and agreed to by the State Government. This became payable from 1 August 2016. United Voice IR team and Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) have appointed Mercer Consulting (Australia) P/L to provide the independent inquiry report. Over the next few months, site inspections, interviews
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and surveys will be conducted to ensure all QAS staff from all areas be given the opportunity to have input into the inquiry.
SAFETY UPGRADES FOR LARU VEHICLES Following concerns raised by members around increasing demands for LARU vehicles to respond to high level accidents which put crews at risk, QAS has agreed to fit and retrofit new and existing vehicles with livery including flashlights on all cars.
A WIN FOR PAID TRAINING Part of the Code One campaign was to tackle the issue of paid training. United Voice was very pleased to sign off on a new agreement with QAS, full of positive change for its members. The QAS2017 Education Plan will mean increased opportunities for the maintenance of clinical currency and development for all ambulance officers. The plan gives a firm commitment to 40 hours paid time per year per officer for training and casual officers will be paid for mandatories or any skill enhancement deemed necessary by QAS.
EXTRA RESOURCES Although a far cry from the 600 extra ambulance officers being asking for, United Voice Qld welcomed the announcement in this year’s State Government budget funding for the recruitment of an extra 110 ambulance officers and the commission of a number of new and replacement vehicles. Continued pressure will be applied on the government to increase future funding for the recruitment of more ambulance officers.
AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH COUNCIL GRANT United Voice Qld will partner with the Australian Research Council (ARC) in a three-year project led by Griffith University to understand and improve people-management strategies in emergency services. This multifaceted research project will identify the organisational subsystems that affect the long-term employment for emergency service workers along with other individual and organisational outcomes.
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Fairer super for all HESTA is at the forefront of current political debate, examining why women retire with less than men.
We have been strongly advocating on behalf of our members at the Senate inquiry into the economic security of women in retirement. The inquiry has been examining why women retire with significantly less super than men and what changes could be made to improve the system. The Senate inquiry’s report outlines 19 recommendations intended to help women increase their participation in the workforce and improve their super savings as a means of achieving dignity and economic security in retirement. HESTA CEO Debby Blakey said it was encouraging that the multi-party Senate inquiry had focussed on reforms designed to improve the overall fairness of the super system. “We welcome the report’s recommendations that focus on system-wide reform of super and tackling unequal pay,” Ms Blakey said. “This is the most effective way to tackle long-standing equity issues in Australian society that result in women being far more vulnerable to poverty later in life. What we don’t want to see is another report like this sitting on a shelf gathering dust as this will simply expose future generations of women to the risk of an insecure retirement.” HESTA’s submission stressed that the wage gap between men and women remains the biggest factor in women retiring with less than men.
“The gap in super savings that women experience is not due to the choices they make – the main causes are the gender pay gap that sees women earning less than their male counterparts and unpaid time out of the workforce.”
Closing the pay gap is clearly vital and must be tackled through structural and societal changes. In the meantime, the super system can also evolve. For many HESTA members, their super will supplement a retirement income that is underpinned by the Age Pension.
HESTA CEO, Debby Blakey The vast majority of HESTA’s more than 800,000 members are women working in health and community services, where the gender pay gap is 27.7%, according to figures from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency. “Super is there for every Australian and the conversation needs to start including low-income earners and women,” adds Debby.
Information issued by H.E.S.T. Australia Ltd ABN 66 006 818 695 AFSL No. 235249, the Trustee of Health Employees Superannuation Trust Australia (HESTA) ABN 64 971 749 321. Before making a decision about HESTA products you should read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (call 1800 813 327 or visit hesta.com.au for a copy), and consider any relevant risks (hesta.com.au/understandingrisk).
INDEPENDENT PANEL OVERSIGHT REPORT
A major report into the suicide deaths of five ambulance staff was released in September concluding that St John Ambulance (SJA) failed to manage ‘psychological risk’ to Western Australian (WA) staff.
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THE INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT PANEL (IOP) report, which was headed up by former WA health director Dr Neale Fong, Ian Taylor and Professor Alexander MacFarlane, highlighted various issues around resourcing, culture and responsibility within WA’s ambulance workforce. The IOP report was commissioned after five suspected suicides of SJA paramedics in WA between December 2013 and March 2015. These deaths were also subject to a review by chief psychiatrist Nathan Gibson, whose report was released in March. The IOP report made 24 findings including that St John has a “degree of reluctance” AMBULANCE ACTIVE
“United Voice members would like to see the Barnett Government involved to ensure St John implement all of these recommendations. “As an essential public service this needs to be managed effectively and resolved quickly. “Recommendation 27 for a body to oversee the implementation of recommendations must include government representatives. “We support the report’s recommendations SJA be held accountable for workplace culture through contractual obligations with the State.” In a submission to the panel in July 2015, United Voice made 23 recommendations on behalf of members which centred on the organisation taking pre-emptive and supportive action to ensure the safety of their staff. Ms Smith said it was disappointing it had taken 18 months and three reports to get to this point. “Moving forward, members just want to see transparency and commitment from St John to improve the health and wellbeing practices within the workplace,” she said.
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
to accept the “magnitude” of risk paramedics experience day-to-day and their current support to wellbeing and support is “inadequate”. It also identified the psychological risk and care of the workforce could be improved by the inclusion of key performance indicators into the CEO’s agreement. From these findings the panel made 27 recommendations into developing a stronger workplace culture and ensuring staff support given the psychological risks of working as emergency services personnel. United Voice Secretary Carolyn Smith said she welcomed the recommendations AMBULANCE ACTIVE
and is glad members have finally been vindicated after years of struggle. Ms Smith said the report is a step in the right direction for workers who, for too long, have had to suffer undue harm. She said after the findings of this report it is now time for the State Government to step up and ensure this essential public service provides a safe workplace for employees. “By implementing the 27 recommendations made in the report, St John has a very good opportunity to transform their organisational culture to ensure it does not contribute, or exacerbate, workplace stress,” Ms Smith said.
• Engage a qualified mental health professional with expertise in emergency service workforces to assist the organisation to develop a formal position on the unique needs of the ambulance workforce and ongoing needs for mental health care. • Carry out a mental health study of the WA ambulance workforce to identify risk factors for disorder, including suicidality. • St John Ambulance should work collaboratively with the workforce and workforce representatives to develop career transition pathways. • Employ qualified and experienced mental health practitioner/s on the wellbeing and support team. • St John Ambulance to take more responsibility of the wellbeing and support model. • Undertake a review of organisational culture and employee engagement. • Conduct a staff satisfaction survey. • Chief Executive Officer be made responsible for the psychological health (as a result of critical incident trauma) of St John employees and volunteers. • It is recommended the contract between the State and St John incorporate agreed key performance indicators relating to psychological risk and care of the workforce. • Oversight of the implementation of these recommendations and a formal profess report conducted in September 2017.
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Conference delegates 2016
NCAU NATIONAL CONFERENCE Hobart, Tasmania 24-26 August 2016
(L-R) Mick Callinan, Mick Grayson and Mel Kennedy from NSW
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Presenter Tim Peck (beyondblue)
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Presenter Stuart Hatter (NSW)
Presenter Dr Tony McHugh (Clinical PTSD discussion)
Presenter Michelle Burgess (Workers Health Centre NSW)
Presenter Tim Peck (beyondblue)
Front (L-R): Mick Mahoney (QLD), Chris Benjamin (TAS), Matt Lynch (QLD), Simone Haigh (TAS). Back (L-R): Steve Mitchell (ACT), Greg Bruce (NSW), Amanda Kaczmarek (VIC), Tim Peck (beyondblue), Sarah Grey (ACT).
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ANNUAL CONFERENCE WRAP-UP
By Bracha Raphael THIS YEAR’S NATIONAL Council of Ambulance Unions conference marked a turning point for paramedics across the country. The NCAU came together nine years ago as a forum for state-based unions to compare notes. Its original mandate was to work towards professional recognition for paramedics, and to push for a national paramedic registration scheme. This year, NCAU delegates heard from two eminent health policy specialists, Meredith Carter and Anne-Louise Carlton on the finer – and may I say, drier – details of paramedic registration. Long story short? National paramedic registration is coming, and sooner than anyone thought possible. This is thanks to the professionalism and dedication of paramedics across the country. It is also thanks to the tireless efforts of NCAU. With paramedic registration sorted, the next task for ambulance unions looms large: protecting the mental health and wellbeing of the workforce. We know all too well the toll our job can take. Lives lost, families broken, relationships ruined. Our unions are not willing to accept that these tragedies are simply part of the job. We heard from Tim Peck at beyondblue about how employers can better protect their staff. We heard from Dr Tony McHugh about the clinical manifestations of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We were taken through the workings of Queensland Ambulance’s phenomenally successful peer support program. Victoria’s very own Steve McGhie presented the joint ambulance-police union push for presumptive approval of PTSD WorkCover claims. Not that we didn’t have any fun. We frolicked in the crisp Tasmanian winter sunshine. We explored MONA, Hobart’s whackiest artsy tourist attraction. We drank overpriced coffee (Melbourne’s is better), and sampled Tasmanian salmon (it is better in Hobart).
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We compared notes with our Kiwi guests on life – and ambulance – in New Zealand (no venomous snakes in NZ, but no penalty rates either). We dined together, wined (and whined) together, and, after an all-too-brief 48 hours, flew back home, recharged for the work that lies ahead.
HUNTER PAIN CLINIC 91 CHATHAM STREET BROADMEADOW NSW 2292 Phone: 4985 1800 Fax: 4940 3022
Dr Marc Russo
MBBS DA (UK) FANZCA FFPMANZCA SPECIALIST PAIN MEDICINE PHYSICIAN Utilising a multidisciplinary approach to treat patients suffering with persistent pain. GP or Specialist Referral is required to make an appointment
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Integrated Vehicle Component System
NO EXCUSE FOR ABUSE
Minister for Ambulance Services Cameron Dick presents the Paramedic Safety Taskforce Final Report.
United Voice Queensland Ambulance Officers have been instrumental in driving the state-wide ‘No Excuse for Abuse’ campaign, which has led to a significant increase in awareness of the high levels of assault against Paramedics and Patient Transport Officers (PTOs). 18
AT THE BEGINNING OF 2016, a Paramedic Safety Taskforce comprised of United Voice and Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) was established as a result of ongoing pressure from the union. It followed consistently high assault rates for Ambulance Officers. In Queensland alone, a reported 238 paramedics were attacked in 2015 and another 123 verbally abused. United Voice played a key role in forming the taskforce to tackle this problem. Its final report made 15 recommendations, including education and training for frontline paramedics, public awareness campaigns, reviews of post-incident AMBULANCE ACTIVE
Cairns Ambulance Demonstration 1: Ambulance Officers are joined by Member for Barron River and former Paramedic Craig Crawford outside the Cairns Magistrates Court in October.
Paramedics and their supporters outside the Southport Court in February.
support and introduction of chemical sedation among other recommendations. An oversight committee, comprising of QAS and United Voice, was also established to drive the implementation of the recommendations and meets on a monthly basis. While many recommendations have already been implemented, others are a work in progress – but there’s little doubt that the message of Zero Tolerance is starting to cut through. Cairns ambulance officers held a second silent demonstration outside the Cairns Magistrates Court in late November, as a sentence was handed down to the man who recently attacked a Cairns paramedic. AMBULANCE ACTIVE
The attacker was sentenced to six months in jail, to serve a minimum of two months, over the attack of a United Voice member as she cared for him. “We think the sentence showed a firm and fair response, which is what we wanted,” United Voice delegate Jen Miran said. “The Zero Tolerance message is clearly getting through, and having this holistic approach with ambulance officers holding these events, the community supporting us and then magistrates following through with their sentencing really conveys that there’s no excuse for abuse against paramedics.” Ambulance Officers have now held
silent demonstrations outside several court hearings as attackers have faced charges, including in Southport and Bundaberg. “This year has seen a significant pushback from our union’s membership about assault,” United Voice Queensland Branch Secretary Gary Bullock said. “With a spike in alcohol and drug fuelled assaults against ambulance officers, our members decided that enough was enough and became really active in their campaigning around the issue. “We’re really starting to see the results of their work now with increased community awareness that there really is No Excuse for Abuse.”
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FWT REPORT REVEALED AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE ON Wednesday 12 October 2016, workers from industries that rely on penalty rates helped launch Labor’s Fair Work Taskforce (FWT) report, which highlights the immediate challenges facing Australian workers. The report makes it crystal clear that the Turnbull Government is bereft of a jobs’ plan, other than hurting low and middle income earners through attempts to attack the minimum wage and slash penalty rates. (L-R) Senator the Hon Chris Opposition Leader Bill Ketter, Steve Mitchell, Hon Shorten attended the launch Brendan O’Connor MP, Hon Lisa and spoke to workers from a Chesters MP. cross section of industries that rely on penalty rates. Following the launch, NCAU Vice President Steve Mitchell spoke to the media at the press conference with the Shadow Minister for Employment Brendan O’Connor, FWT Chair Lisa Chesters MP and FWT Secretary Senator Chris Ketter. Labor established the Fair Work Taskforce because it believed that everyone should have a say about their workplace conditions and a voice in response to the Abbott-Turnbull Governments’ attack on jobs, wages and conditions.
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The Taskforce heard from over 200 participants who attended 20 hearings across regional Australia, outer metropolitan suburbs and in every capital city. It clearly revealed the issues facing Australian workers and will inform Labor’s policies at the next election. A key issue identified in the report is that the national landscape for workers is becoming more and more insecure. Regardless of whether it’s casual retail or hospitality workers fearing a cut in penalty rates, or skilled workers being sacked and replaced with temporary workers employed by subcontractors, the lack of job security and a regular income is generating fear across the Australian workforce. These are issues the Turnbull Government has failed to respond to. In fact, this government has failed to develop a jobs’ plan; failed to respond to the Productivity Commission review into workplace relations that it commissioned; and failed to adequately protect workers from 7-Eleven-like exploitation. While the Government has claimed that it does not intend to reduce penalty rates for emergency services workers at this time, the NCAU stands shoulder-to-shoulder with workers from vulnerable industries that are under the threat of having their penalty rates and entitlements slashed. This may well be the thin edge of the wedge. Once no payment of shift penalties becomes the norm in the retail and hospitality sectors, an attack on shift penalties for ambulance officers would be next. The Fair Work Taskforce Report is available at http://bit.ly/2fNQpZQ
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HEALTHY AMBOS SAVE LIVES
FIRST Union’s Ambulance sector, Ambulance Professionals First, has launched its Healthy Ambos Save Lives campaign. By Lynette Blacklaws Ambulance Professionals First (NZ) THE LAUNCH INCLUDED A PARTIAL strike action involving over 800 Ambulance officers in New Zealand. The campaign is focused on ensuring that the government adequately funds the Ambulance Service across New Zealand and that the funding is fairly distributed by Ambulance companies like St John. The launch of the campaign and strike action comes as Ambulance Professionals are fighting for an improved wage offer and in support of our claims to reduce fatigue which is a huge hazard in the sector. The partial strike started with a breaking the uniform policy. Ambos were saving lives dressed as superman/woman, bat woman, wearing Mickey Mouse t-shirts and all manner of creative interpretations of the uniform.
Everyone including the Control Centre members wore badges stating ‘Healthy Ambos Save Lives.’ Our Facebook and twitter pages have been posting anonymous quotes from our Ambulance members talking about their experiences working with St John and dissatisfaction with the company’s offer. In the space of a week, our Facebook page has reached over 120,000 people with over 50,000 posting, liking and sharing. We achieved excellent national media too. Healthy Ambos Save Lives is more than an industrial dispute. It’s a longterm campaign for funding to address common problems within the sector. These include lack of rest breaks, long hours, inadequate leave provisions,
Visit our website for more info www.healthyambossavelives Also please like our facebook page: www.facebook.com/AmbulanceProfessionals
AMBULANCE ACTIVE
single crewing in rural areas, officers’ safety, and support for work-related issues such as PTSD. And it’s not over yet; our membership plans to step up the action, we are balloting Ambulance Professionals at Station Meetings over the next month. At the time of print the union has issued another strike notice to reinstate industrial action for another month beginning 25 November.
Hundreds of messages were received on Facebook, like this message from a St John Ambulance officer “I’m tired and hungry, disengaged to my employer, working with colleagues who are tired and hungry and burned out. We need better pay to afford the cost of living and we need our breaks. No PMEs, meal break is a meal break, no questions asked!”
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RESEARCH
OCCUPATIONAL VIOLENCE RESEARCH La Trobe Rural Health School is conducting a research project to explore Ambulance Victoria paramedics’ experience of occupational violence. IF YOU ARE AN AMBULANCE VICTORIA employee and have an experience of occupational violence or aggression, La Trobe would like you to participate in this project. The project aims to provide context to the current state of occupational violence towards paramedics in Australia and to gain a greater understanding of occupational violence risk factors and opportunities for violence prevention. Participants will be required to take part in a 45-60 minute interview where questions about your story of occupational violence will be asked. You will also be required to describe the incident(s) you have experienced, and will have the opportunity to discuss issues, explore possible risk factors
and identify opportunities for prevention. The interview will be conducted at a time and place convenient to you, and may be conducted in person or over the phone. An audio recording will be made of the interview and you would be given a transcript to review and approve. Currently, La Trobe is looking for 10 to 15 face-to-face interviews only, so please get in early to share your story. Please note that your participation in this research project is entirely voluntary. If you would like further information such as a Plain Language Statement, have any queries or concerns or if you would like to express your interest in participating in an interview, please contact:
Tim Smith & Kristel Pilarski | Real Estate |
Prof. Peter O’Meara Chief Investigator La Trobe Rural Health School La Trobe University, Bendigo Campus Edwards Rd, Flora Hill VIC 3552 p.omeara@latrobe.edu.au +61 3 5444 7870 Mr. Brodie Thomas MAS Post Graduate Student La Trobe Rural Health School La Trobe University, Bendigo Campus Edwards Rd, Flora Hill VIC 3552 b.thomas2@latrobe.edu.au This project has received ethics approval by Science, Health & Engineering College Human Ethics SubCommittee at La Trobe University (ref. no. S16-204).
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CONTACTS
Australian Capital Territory Steve Mitchell E: TWUAmbulance@act.twu.com.au P: 02 6280 9353
New South Wales Greg Bruce E: GBruce@ambulance.nsw.gov.au P: 0408 020 609
Northern Territory Erina Early E: erina.early@unitedvoice.org.au P: 0400 030 834
Queensland Michael Formica E: michael.formica@unitedvoice.org.au
South Australia Phil Palmer and Wayne Carty E: info@aeasa.com.au P: 08 8340 3511
Tasmania Tim Jacobson E: tim@hacsutas.net.au P: 1300 880 032
Victoria Steve McGhie E: steve.mcghie@unitedvoice.org.au P: 03 9235 7661
Western Australia Emmet Molloy E: emmet.molloy@unitedvoice.org.au P: 08 9388 5400
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