Ambulance Active Spring 2011

02 SPRING 2011

Injured flight paramedic rebuilds life • National register critical for public safety • community paramedic model flawed

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Regulars From the President 05 Profile 10 States of Activity 12 Active Places: Community Paramedic Model Flawed 24 Active Women: Mums returning to work – what are the options?

In Brief Contacts

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Volume 1 Issue 2 SPRING 2011

Ambulance Active Official Publication of National Council of Ambulance Unions editorial Editor: Kristi High Send articles for inclusion to: countrywide.media@gmail.com

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18 FEATURES Registration 06 National of Paramedics the genie put back 16 Putting in the bottle 18 The fight to build a new life 29 WA’s mining boom 30 Photos NT’s new 33 Welcoming paramedic educator 36 Caption this

Jamie Jackway rebuilds his life after a tragic helicopter accident, which left him a paraplegic.

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NCAU continues its fight for professional registration of paramedics, nationally.

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HEADER president

STEVE McGhie, President, NCAU

the PRESIDENT Welcome to the second edition of Ambulance Active. The first issue, which was published in July, received an excellent response from members.

I encourage you all to participate in sharing information among the ambulance community through the journal, or through the website which was launched in August.

As with most websites, there were some technical glitches with registration at the start. These have now been sorted out and the membership of the site is growing each day. These are two new communication avenues the NCAU has put in place to provide better two-way communication between the unions around the country and the members.

A more traditional means of communication, our annual convention, was held in September. About 50 people travelled to Melbourne for the two day conference. It was very pleasing to see each state represented and I congratulate all of the unions for their participation in the NCAU 2011 Convention. In addition to a round-up of activities from each state, and robust discussion about the big issues, we were fortunate to have a number of guest speakers. Thanks to Ray Bange, the national Policy Advisor to Paramedics Australasia. His presentation about current

AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2011

“Thank you to all of the states for participating

in the NCAU over the past 12 months and to all union members, thank you for your support.

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developments on registration provided excellent insight into the potential landscape of paramedic practice under a registration model similar to other health professionals. Jim Arneman also presented on this topic from a more localised perspective. Jim has also penned an excellent article on the subject of national registration in this current issue of Ambulance Active. Other issues identified during the conference included national education and competency standards, ramping up at hospitals, workload and resources. Working groups are now being established to research these issues individually in order to reach a consensus on lobbying tactics that are consistent nationwide.

Enterprise bargaining is a long and hard task but is a critical part of our work for our members. Congratulations to Western Australia, Northern Territory, New South Wales and Queensland for mounting

successful wage outcomes. South Australia and Australian Capital Territory are currently in negotiations and we wish them support and good luck. Victoria and Tasmania will commence their negotiations in 2012.

The NCAU has appointed former NCAU National Secretary Jim Arneman to the position of executive officer. Jim will assist us in communicating and liaising with members, and will drive the professional registration issue along with other duties.

I would like to express my thanks to the executive of the NCAU for all of their hard work this year – Tim Jacobson, Steve Mitchell, Phil Palmer, Wayne Carty and Greg Bruce. Thank you to all of the states for participating in the NCAU over the past 12 months and to all union members, thank you for your support. On behalf of the executive, I wish you all a safe and happy holiday season.

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national registration

National Registration of Paramedics For some, it is seen as a precursor to professional recognition. For others, it is a further layer of bureaucracy, cost and compliance. Is there a need for registration?

What form will it take? What will it involve?

What Is National Registration and Accreditation?

Jim Arneman The National Council of Ambulance Unions (NCAU) was conceived to advance the interests of members of affiliated unions. It provides a national voice on those issues that transcend state and territory boundaries. National registration of paramedics is clearly such an issue. It has been identified and confirmed as the priority issue for the NCAU at our last three annual conferences.

The debate around national registration is complicated. It is intertwined with professional recognition and educational accreditation.

It is made more difficult because, unlike nursing, medicine and many allied health disciplines, there are no current state or territory paramedic registration models.

It is new territory for Australian paramedics.

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The Council of Australian Government’s (COAG) National Registration and Accreditation Scheme for health professions is premised on dealing with workforce shortages and pressures faced by the Australian health workforce in the face of escalating demand.

It is a key component of the Federal Government’s National Health Reform agenda.

Initially, the scheme concentrated on 10 health professions with existing state and territory based registration schemes in place.

These schemes limited health professionals to practising in a single jurisdiction.1 National Registration Boards, established by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), develop registration standards, codes and guidelines; maintain databases of registered practitioners that are available to the public; are responsible for accreditation of educational standards and approved programs of study; oversee investigations into professional conduct, performance or health/impairment issues affecting health professionals; and ensure appropriate organisations investigate

NCAU working hard to move forward to a national registration for all paramedics in Australia. Photo: Anthony Woodcock.

community concerns about individually registered health practitioners. They may also credential overseas health professional applications for Australian registration.

A single national registration and accreditation system enables health professionals to practice around the country more easily. Stand-alone registration reduces red tape by negating the need for health professionals to be registered in each state or territory. It also provides greater safeguards for the public, and is designed to promote a more flexible, responsive and sustainable health workforce.2

Where is the process at?

National registration for the original 10 professions commenced in 2010. A further four professions are expected to achieve national registration in mid 2012.

In February 2010, the Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council received a proposal from the Western Australian government to add paramedics to the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme prior to July 2014. In principle, agreement has since been given to advance this proposal. The Western Australian Department of Health has been designated as the lead agency in the Paramedic Registration Project, which is expected to commence consulting on a potential national paramedic registration proposal in the near future.

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national registration

Why has NCAU prioritised this as an issue for unions?

While pay and conditions will always be the primary focus for unions representing paramedics, increasingly we have become involved in issues affecting the professional practice of our members.

Union engagement, with the introduction of various certificates to practice models in different states and territories, is a good recent example where active involvement has protected and enhanced members’ access to CTP leave, paid training and professional development in a number of jurisdictions. National Registration will potentially throw up a multitude of professional practice considerations that will impact on union members.

The introduction of a single national registration scheme to paramedics provides opportunities for portability of qualifications between jurisdictions, offshore recognition and career development. It will require a single national set of agreed competencies, specifying the qualifications required for different levels of practice. Educational programs will have to be accredited in line with these standards. Many complaints, and fitness to practice concerns, will be managed by registration boards. There will be increased responsibility and accountability for registered professionals.

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There will be a cost for initial registration and annual certification. It is likely that not all current practitioners will make the cut, necessitating grandfathering arrangements.

Unions have a role in ensuring the interests of members are at the forefront of all the above considerations.

What are NCAU’s registration objectives?

NCAU’s initial goals were to • Achieve national registration of paramedics • Formulate a formal submission to AHMC/COAG seeking Regulated Status for paramedics

• Achieve representation on both state and national pre-hospital Registration Boards.

Clearly, NCAU’s role as a peak representative body for paramedic unions means it is uniquely positioned to represent the industrial/professional interests of members as the registration process unfolds. NCAU’s rationale for becoming involved in the registration process are centred on the following considerations: Public safety - to ensure consistent standards of care to protect the community A flexible and responsive paramedic workforce - A cohesive framework to allow a national standard with an underpinning set of geographical and regional service delivery models (based on the needs of individual states, territories and communities). This is an important facet of COAG’s national health agenda Portability of qualifications - a simple, nationally recognised, framework to allow straight forward transfers between jurisdictions would be a considerable benefit for paramedics wishing to move around Australia Brand protection - protection of the name paramedic or registered paramedic would ensure consistent professional and

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national registration

“In an era of increasing private involvement in ambulance work, and

a multiplicity of employers, (a national register) is a critical component of ensuring standards and protecting public safety.

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clinical standards nationally. It would also potentially enable industrial organisations to protect against influxes of nonaccredited/registered pre-hospital care providers into the workplace by controlling access to registration Red tape reduction - to ensure scarce funding and resources are maximised in terms of delivering high-quality prehospital care to the community and not wasted on unnecessary duplication and administration across jurisdictions National register - would allow the public to identify paramedics that have achieved registration by making it unlawful for a person who is not on the list of registered paramedics to hold themselves out as one.

In an era of increasing private involvement in ambulance work, and a multiplicity of employers, this is a critical component of ensuring standards and protecting public safety Role overlap - The face of the national health workforce is changing. A system in which silo professions are becoming obsolete and there is an impediment to provide holistic patient care. There is growing emphasis on multi-disciplinary teamwork and role overlap, where some of the work of one profession overlaps that of other. A national registration scheme should allow allied health professionals, nurses and paramedics, to perform some roles or tasks that have traditionally been those of medical practitioners. While some might see this as a threat, it can also be a significant opportunity to enhance our members’ professional development

Conclusion In addition to national registration of health practitioners, the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council notes that accreditation of service providers to ensure national consistency of interventions, competencies, accountability, transparent reporting and equitable treatment of the workforce in both the public and

private domains, should also be a priority. At present, state, territory and private employers of paramedics are not accredited and there are significant variations to clinical practice scopes and standards across jurisdictions. Many prominent commentators have observed that employer-led accreditation of paramedic practice has failed in Australia.

National registration would go some way to addressing this failure.

Finally, there has been extensive criticism by unions over time of individual services being the judge and jury on matters of clinical practice and professional conduct.

A number of parliamentary and Auditor General enquiries have highlighted the potential for these disciplinary proceedings to be used in a punitive fashion. Allegations of bullying and harassment by managers have been raised. An independent and transparent process for handling complaints would perhaps be the major benefit of a unified National Registration scheme for paramedics. The public interest would be better served, and principles of natural justice more readily protected for union members.

It is generally agreed that national registration of paramedics will progress at some stage. NCAU is committed to engaging in this process, both to take advantages of any opportunities for members and as well as defending their industrial interests.

For information on paramedic registration schemes already in operation overseas visit: College of Paramedics, Alberta, Canada www.collegeofparamedics.org Health Professions Council United Kingdom www.hpc-uk.org

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About the author: Jim Arneman worked as an Advanced Life Support qualified paramedic for the Ambulance Service of NSW for more than 22 years, including nearly 10 years as the staff elected Director on the Ambulance Board. He worked for three years as a union organiser and served two terms as the Secretary of NCAU. He maintains a strong interest in clinical governance and professional paramedic practice issues.

He will shortly commence employment with the ACT Ambulance Service. Contact at jarneman@ceinternet.com.au Footnotes 1 Full details can be found at the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency website http://www.ahpra.gov.au 2 Australian Health Workforce Online http://www.nhwt.gov.au/natreg.asp

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Ambulance Employees Association WA Vice President Donelle Carver Experienced WA paramedic Donelle Carver has held the position of Ambulance Employees Association WA (AEAWA) Vice President since 2009, a position once dominated by men in an industry where she believes work place issues are still centred around male employees.

Donelle’s interest in unions, and industrial issues, stems from her childhood. Raised in Manly, NSW, Donelle’s father was the Plumbers Union Shop Steward at Jervois Bay, where she spent many days watching her father resolve, and sometimes create, issues – depending on what was happening.

Before moving to WA, Donelle worked as a hairdresser in the leafy Sydney suburb of Mosman where she dealt with the bayside elite. A trip west was an ideal time to explore the world and what else it had to offer.

On arrival in the capital city, she stumbled across an advertisement for non-emergency transport officers with the Ambulance Service WA. Her application was successful and the new job opened her eyes to the world of a paramedic, and emergency care. It was a career she became determined to pursue.

Donelle was accepted into the Paramedic Science Degree at Edith Cowan University. In addition to studying and raising two young children, she continued working weekends as a transport officer. She described entering university as a mature aged student and mother being made somewhat easier through union activity, where advocators had successfully negotiated generous maternity and paternity leave options that enabled her to do it all.

In January 2006, Donelle entered the Ambulance Service Induction School and was on-road in May of that year.

Shortly after commencing, she was rostered with John Thomas, the current President of the AEAWA and a 30 year veteran of the industry. “It was unbelievable the knowledge and input that John had in the day-to-day operations of the service,” she said.

“For a period of time I thought I was his personal assistant there were that many calls coming to the station and the vehicle, it was endless.”

It was this interaction that sparked Donelle’s interest in the union. After three years working alongside John, Donelle decided it was time to step-up, get involved and take control of the direction of her future.

Following her graduation from Edith Cowan University, Donelle was invited to become involved with future development of the Bachelor course. She was also asked to sit on the Flinders Steering group, which reviews all university based courses associated with the industry.

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Since being elected Vice President of the AEAWA, she has become an activist for female conditions in the service, Enterprise Agreement negotiator, and representative for transport officers.

Donelle has received many accolades for her involvement in the industry and recently won a Bravery Award for a call, which at her own initiative, orchestrated the rescue and retrieval of a critical young man from a well.

Donelle recently travelled to Kununurra, in the far north of WA as a relief rural remote paramedic to examine the role and see the problems or positives associated with this role. A report has been forwarded to management with a range of recommendations for change.

Donelle has also become involved with the National Council of Ambulance Unions through her association with the AEAWA and continues to be involved with issues that affect paramedics on a national basis.

Read Donelle’s article about her posting in Kununurra on page 24.

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Austral owned ian operateand d

NCAU ACTIVE

Queensland Determination outcomes and Enterprise Bargaining 2012 The current Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) Determination has seen ambulance officers receive wage increases, added classification levels and higher pay points, as well as improved conditions such as increased sick leave and retention of entitlements that the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) sought to remove.

The final wage increase was applied in October 2011. Compared to the rates paid at the end of the 2005 agreement, this saw all ambulance officers receive wage increases between 17.5 and 21.5 percent.

These increases represent a significant milestone in the ongoing campaign for better wages and conditions for Queensland ambulance members. However, there are no further increases applicable in the current Determination, which expires in September 2012. Any further pay rises will need to be sought in a new agreement between United Voice and QAS. As we move towards the next round of negotiations, we have to recognise that even though the overall outcome was a win, the last round did not deliver everything members wanted. In order to be ready for what will certainly be another intense campaign, we must ensure that we have the strength and resources to work together for a better reward, and recognition.

United Voice (QLD) State Council met recently to begin preliminary preparation for the Enterprise Bargaining negotiations.

Discussions focused on the process leading up to bargaining and preparations for the Log of Claims.

Recent Industrial wins United Voice has been successful in a number of applications to the QIRC, which have resulted in increases for Queensland ambulance officers. These include increases to the Broken Meal Allowance as well as the Community Education Allowance.

We also appeared, along with the Queensland Council of Unions, in the 2011 State Wage Case. The concluding decision raised minimum award rates by 3.4 percent

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and increased allowances for mine skills, on-site and aerial ambulance.

An application made by United Voice to amend the Ambulance Services Award was also successful in achieving greater outcomes for members. The award now includes the new classification structure, relativities, additional pay points and the July 2010 pay rates. The new minimum rates include previous Enterprise Bargaining increases, two interim determination increases, translational increases from the new structure, and the additional increase from the State Wage Case.

These amendments have increased the minimum award rates by a significant amount and became operative on 1 October 2011.

EMD National Medal Congratulations to all involved in the recent recognition, by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, of the amendments to the eligibility criteria for the national medal to include emergency medical despatchers (EMD). Collective action by officers from across all sectors of QAS highlighted the need for recognition of the role of EMDs and their highly deserved eligibility for this award.

Tasmania Tasmanian paramedics are looking at facing even more pressure over the next three years following the Tasmanian State Government’s announcement to slash $100.2 m from the health budget. Cuts, which are unprecedented in the Tasmanian health system, are likely to have a serious effect on ambulance officers already feeling the pressure under rising demand.

Ambulance Tasmania had previously been promised increased funding under the Government’s forward estimates to deal with increased caseload (foreshadowed to increase this year by 6 percent) but now Ambulance Tasmania is faced with a $2.5 million cut from its current expenditure.

It is likely further cuts will be announced in the next budget in the Government’s attempt to bring the state into surplus.

At this stage, the $2.5 million budget cut has been made in non-operational areas,

however paramedics remain concerned about the future and the increased pressure associated with rising demand.

Tasmanian unions are campaigning against the cuts, given that the most severe are across the Department of Health and Human Services. Major community rallies occurred between the end of October and early November.

Tasmanian paramedics are continuing to maintain a strong workplace presence with regard to a multitude of industrial matters before them.

Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) has recently advised Ambulance Tasmania that it believes their Paramedic Specialist Classification proposal for flight and helicopter paramedics has no merit, following significant negotiations and Industrial Commission hearings regarding the possible establishment of such an allowance.

While HACSU and paramedic members have been seeking for the establishment of a specialist classification, it was rejected, as the detail did not address the concerns of our members.

Bullying and harassment remains an area of concern for members. HACSU and Ambulance Tasmania have signed a joint statement regarding this issue. More work is required to address this issue and stamp out bullying and harassment.

Removing on road crews to fulfil commercial contacts (horse racing, car racing and commercially oriented community events) is a practice that Ambulance Tasmania continues to support.

Over a recent weekend, three crews were dispatched from their local stations to cover events. This is unacceptable, particularly at a time where demand is increasing and funding is decreasing. The union continues to advise the community via media channels where crews are utilised for this purpose.

Lack of resources remains the most significant factor affecting HACSU Ambulance Employees Sub Branch (AESB) members. HACSU is continuing to lobby all sides of politics to have this matter addressed once and for all. In such a challenging economic environment, this is a difficult task but we continue to use all means available to have the matter addressed.

Finally, the AESB is continuing to work on the development of its Professional Rates/ AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2011

NCAU ACTIVE

Work Value case. To date, significant time has been allocated to developing and accessing a range of resources required to implement the best possible case for members. AESB executive members have contributed many hours comparing the Clinical Practice Guidelines, education standards and other matters that existed when the last work value case was handed down. HACSU is continuing to brief its barrister and seek further advice on case development.

Western Australia 2011-2014 Certified Agreement for ambulance personnel is almost complete with the drafting stage taking longer than anticipated prior to going to ballot of all members.

This has been a subdued negotiation in comparison to past campaigns and the union believes it has delivered a decent wage and conditions outcome without any loss of existing working conditions.

This campaign saw a different approach from the union bargaining team in that, historically, all sections of ambulance workers have been negotiated at the one time this often led to protracted debate in relation to each section. The agreement was negotiated individually with members from each section and the union executive, which we believe delivered a more streamlined and relevant claim resulting in an accelerated outcome.

The following table is a condensed version of the claim with what was asked and what was accepted (to be endorsed by members) Paramedics/ambulance Officers • 6 percent wage increase per annum for three year agreement. Offered 5 percent per annum on wages and allowances. (Agreed) • Increased personal leave from 96 hours to 120 hours per annum. (Agreed) • Increased flexibility in annual leave AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2011

allocation. (Agreed) • Increase time off in lieu to 96 hours per session. (Agreed) • Formulation of policy and procedure to decrease fatigue issues in the workplace. (Agreed) • Examine the night shift hours to reduce shift to bring into line with other shift lengths without reduction of entitlements. (Agreed) There are also a number of subtle changes in other areas including rostering, which will not impact on the current conditions.

NO TRADE OFFS Transport officers • 6 percent wage increase per annum for three year agreement. Offered 5 percent per annum on wages and allowances. (Agreed) • Increase personal leave from 96 hours to 120 hours per annum. (Agreed) • Increased flexibility in annual leave allocation. (Agreed) • Increase time off in lieu to 76 hours per session. (Agreed) • Examine the skills set of current transport and call rollout. (Agreed) • Develop a pathway for officers to paramedic. (Agreed) NO TRADE OFFS Communications officers • 10 percent wage increase per annum for three year agreement. Offered 10 percent plus 5 percent plus 5 percent on wages and allowances.(Agreed) • An allowance for radio operators.

Offered $5 per hour. (Agreed) • 10 minute break every hour from computer screen duties. Offered 10 minute breaks excluding first and last hour and the hour during meal break. (Agreed) • Increased flexibility in annual leave allocation. (Agreed) • Introduction of alternative shift patterns to be family friendly.

(Agreed subject to staffing/ recruitment/retention)

• Minimum staffing levels within centre.

(Agreed) There are a number of other issues in relation to ergonomic requests within the centre, which are being examined outside of the agreement.

NO TRADE OFFS The offer was backdated to 1 July 2011.

The previous Certified Agreement negotiations had been quite protracted due to industrial action to achieve what was seen as substantial gains in wages. It is believed that due to the Government’s investment, and ambulance expansion programmes, minimal disruption was anticipated to achieve the benchmarks set by the state in improving response times and enticing recruitment.

The Ambulance Employees Association WA believes the offer, which should be completed to go to membership shortly, will be endorsed.

I would like to thank the officers who spent many hours researching and negotiating these conditions, many of them in their own time.

ACT Delegate Training Transport Workers Union (TWU) delegates recently undertook a twoday training course conducted by the ACTU, with a focus on negotiation skills.

Delegates received instruction on a number of strategies on winning in the workplace, including insightful training on emotional intelligence.

Service Growth The fruits of sustained campaigning by the TWU to increase frontline staff are coming to bear, with new staff employed in communications and operations. The ACT Government has responded to TWU representations to increase the ACT Ambulance Services (ACTAS) budget. The TWU will continue to monitor resourcing and workload demands, and will maintain vigilance to ensure that with increased staffing across the ACTAS, that member’s access to leave is improved.

NSW HSUeast is leading a number of major campaigns along with attending to individual issues including member underpayments and representing members involved in disciplinary matters.

A statewide campaign commenced in September with the aim of addressing the need for the NSW Government to increase the number of paramedics. The HSUeast

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has been in dispute with the Ambulance Service of NSW (ASNSW) over its treatment of officers experiencing difficulties with the introduction of a new qualification, Certificate IV Level, for all frontline supervisors. A number of members in rural NSW have not been able to complete the course work due to heavy workloads and have been threatened with demotion. A dispute with the ASNSW over increasing incidences of single officer crewing and responses has highlighted the need to increase staff to minimise the incidence of single officer crewing and response.

Other issues include: • Rostering dispute in metropolitan Sydney • HSUeast has pursued the Ambulance Service of NSW in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) following its introduction of three afternoon shifts in Sydney without consultation.

• Response time dispute • HSUeast has been highlighting the effects of poor ambulance response times that have resulted from new guidelines used by the Controls (Communications) Division.

• Attempted introduction of critical care classification In September the Services Aero Medical Division attempted to introduce a component of critical care training for Intensive Care Paramedics working on ASNSW helicopters. HSUeast is opposing this introduction of programs. The matter will be pursued in the NSW IRC if current negotiations do not resolve the matter.

Victoria On 4 October 2011, the Ambulance Employees Australia (AEAVIC) and Ambulance Victoria circulated a detailed document, as a joint bulletin, about how fixed term reliever appointments would work in rural branches throughout Victoria.

In the following weeks, the union attended 13 meetings around Victoria at rural branch locations. The attitude to the proposal was mixed, and there was not a clear mandate to proceed. As a consequence, the union conducted an online vote on the proposal.

The result was 30.8 percent in favour, and 69.2 percent against. Members pointed out that where branch rosters had an on call component, employees forced into the reliever position were likely to be financially disadvantaged by not working their on call shifts. It was also highlighted that at some branches, the number of employees eligible to be rotated into the reliever position was very small. This meant that some employees would be doing relieving work for the most part of the year. The union and Ambulance Victoria will resume their positions as applied before the issue went to Fair Work Australia. AEA VIC believes

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a reserve system of rostering cannot be introduced in rural Victoria. In line with current practice, if you are rostered to a ‘spare line’ and asked to move to another location, this should occur within the shift and with the use of a service vehicle. Return to your normal branch to complete the shift at the rostered finish time, unless otherwise agreed between yourself and management.

AEAVIC is calling on members to look after their own health and safety after it was brought to the attention of the union that a paramedic had responded to a call as a single officer, they were then forced to transport the patient to hospital by themselves. Members should be aware that when responding to any case as a single officer, Occupational Health and Safety issues should be remembered, including: • Only respond in a code 2 capacity (not lights and sirens) • Request immediate back up • Do not enter a scene if in doubt about your own safety • Transport patients only when attended by a two person crew Do not be pressured into transporting a patient by yourself.

South Australia State Government Budget The 2010 State Budget held some nasty surprises for public sector workers, which of course includes ambulance service staff. The ALP Government legislated to remove award and Enterprise Bargaining conditions. It removed leave loading from all non-shift workers, and the additional six days per annum accrual of Long Service Leave for all employees with 15 or more years’ service. The Ambulance Employees Association SA, in conjunction with its state union colleagues, mounted a spirited challenge to the decision. The campaign included mass rallies, and a battle for the hearts and mind of the SA public. We called for the restoration of the lost conditions, the restoration of real labour values in the Government, and for a change in leadership.

We have since won the leave loading back and the political demise of former SA Premier Mike Rann and senior Minister Kevin Foley (both resigned in October 2011), and we are continuing to negotiate the recouping of long service leave entitlements,

or of some agreeable alternative. The AEASA is not affiliated with any political party, but is proudly affiliated with the union movement, and proud of our united and successful attack on out-of-touch politicians.

Enterprise Bargaining We have probably broken some record in the time it has taken to negotiate the latest deal. Discussions commenced in January 2010, and at the time of writing the deal is still not finalised.

The delay has become somewhat of an advantage however, as in the middle of our discussions earlier this year, the Police Union struck a 10 p ercent over three years deal, after all other public sector workers had accepted 7.5 percent. The police deal became our mantra from that time on.

The deal is still not finalised, but very close.

Resourcing – Road and Communications The AEASA and SA Ambulance Service (SASS) have been resourcing issues in earnest all year. Statistics suggest that a significant aspect of the problem is insufficient Patient Transport Services resources to meet elective workload demand, which pushes that work up to the second tier, the Emergency Support Service.

SAAS are obviously hoping that putting on more resources at patient transport services level will relieve the pressure for more paramedics.

We do not believe they will get away without increasing resources at all three levels.

Overpayment of professional rates back-pay As a result of the AEASA’s successful professional rates case, members received significant amounts of back pay – there were many instances of $30,000 and some much higher.

Unfortunately, for about 200 of our members, the Whole of Government pay office (Shared Services) bungled their back-pay calculations and overpaid them, once again for some members these were significant amounts (tens of thousands).

The AEASA has negotiated a reasonable repayment deal, where no member has to pay more than 3.88 percent of their fortnightly pay. It was our preference that all overpayments be written off, but this was not legally achievable.

FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY, GO TO www.ambulanceactive.com.au and choose your state on the right hand side.

AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2011

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Putting the genie put back in the bottle SA’s zero tolerance to ramping Phil Palmer, AEASA Secretary

The SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) suffers most of the same maladies as those facing ambulance workers all over Australia – lack of resources both on the road and in communications, manifesting in terrible crib performance (broken and late), and an over-reliance on overtime to keep the service running.

While SA does not have the same issue with ramping as other states we have not allowed it to gain momentum.

There was an attempt to start the practice here, despite promises by the Labor Government during a recent election campaign.

About this time last year, one of our major tertiary hospitals, Flinders Medical Centre, commenced ramping in another guise. They had ambulances lined up in the emergency department corridor attending to patients while waiting for a more definitive handover than triage provided. The excuse the hospital used was that they were having major renovations in the emergency department,

16

which required some tolerance from all parties - although most of the tolerance seemed to be required of the ambos stuck in emergency doing the work of nurses while being prevented from covering the community. I suppose it could be called corridoring instead of ramping, but in the end they are both a symptom of the same thing - bed block in the emergency department, which arises from bed block elsewhere in the hospital.

The Ambulance Employees Association SA (AEASA) commenced campaigning to resist the practice by using the media and revenue bans to embarrass Flinders Medical Centre, and the Government, into fixing the issue. The SA Industrial Commission issued the following directions: 1. The AEASA agrees to suspend all industrial bans including case cards and Cat C transfers 2. The previous agreement negotiated by the parties be reinstated 3. Flinders Medical Centre management to immediately put in place additional

capacity in the Emergency Department – a concept known as Arrivals Model of Care 4. SA Ambulance management to place an appropriate operational officer at the Emergency Department whose job it will be to liase with the Emergency Department and the SAAS State Duty manager and ambulance crews in an endeavour to mitigate avoidable congestion at the Flinders Medical Centre.

5. Flinders Medical Centre management to liaise with NHS management to ensure that the movement of patients between NHS and Flinders Medical Centre takes into account issues of congestion at Flinders Medical Centre.

6. Flinders Medical Centre management to place notices in clear view of all staff at the Emergency Department, which provides appropriate information to avoid ramping or congestion of ambulances in the Emergency Department. The notices will be authorised by senior management at Flinders Medical Centre.

AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2011

HEADER

Corridoring at Flinders Medical Centre.

This was a good outcome. However, as nothing is straightforward in industrial relations, our dispute went through many phases including literal ramping rearing its ugly head.

For a time following the initial public fuss the problem settled, only to reemerge as the peak season progressed worse than ever. Although, it never got to the magnitude of other states. We finally got to the point where we needed to once again do some ramping of our own. We put together a package of horror stories highlighting some critical incidents to tug at the heart strings of the public and to put the wind up the Government. This made front page news and got the desired result - Health Department officials working feverishly to clear beds elsewhere in the hospital system to create extra capacity to deal with patient surges. In excess of 100 beds were found. Post-acute patients, who could in fact be elsewhere - aged care, rural hospital, and convalescence/ AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2011

rehabilitation, were occupying these beds. The Health Department has committed to an ongoing process of improving patient flow through the whole hospital system.

While we were happy with these beds becoming available, it is clear that a more sustainable solution to ramping is increasing capacity systemwide so that demand can be met within the hospital without involving ambulance. The AEASA is advocating this position to all the Local Health Networks in Adelaide, and gaining some traction.

The genie is indeed back in the bottle, but there are isolated incidents where a single crew is held on the ramp for 25 to 35 minutes, and occasionally up to an hour. While this may seem like a short time to other states, it is not consistent with our zero tolerance to ramping policy. We will continue to take it up to them until there are no incidents at all.

About the SA Ambulance Union The Ambulance Employees Association of South Australia (AEASA) is a small, stand-alone union that covers only ambulance staff. It has a membership of about 1,200 and covers 99.5 percent of all operational staff in the state. The AEASA is not affiliated with any political party, nor is it part of any large national union.

The AEASA came into existence in 1981 to fight for a professional ambulance service in SA, a goal achieved in 1989. It then went on to continuously improve members’ pay and conditions and was successful in winning professional recognition and pay for paramedics dating from 1 January 2007. AEASA Secretary Phil Palmer was elected in 1987 and remains in that position today.

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Cover story

The fight to build a new life

A flight paramedic’s story (L-R) Bob Glenister, Richard Galeano, Jamie Jackway and Aaron Harper at Jamie’s home under construction, October 2011.

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AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2011

cover story

To follow Jamie Jackway’s progress and to donate to the Australian National Paramedic Support Foundation please visit www.jja2012im.com

Jamie Jackway is a QAS Rescue helicopter paramedic.

In 2009, while on a rescue mission, Jamie was involved in a tragic helicopter accident. After 12 months in hospital, and another year of continued rehabilitation at home, Jamie and wife Melinee have been overwhelmed by the rally of support from co-workers and friends. But, facing life as a quadriplegic, the challenges for this father of three, are not yet over.

Aaron Harper, Intensive Care Paramedic

Jamie Jackway, Thursday Island, June 2009.

AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2011

This is the story of an inspirational workmate and friend. To the many Queensland colleagues who know of, or have had the pleasure of meeting, Jamie Jackway, everyone would agree he is someone you cannot forget.

Jamie was born and raised in Townsville and joined the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) in 2003, based at Townsville Station as a student paramedic.

Jamie already came with a high level of training and professionalism after spending seven years as a Medic (Medical Corps) in the Australian Army. It was no surprise, given his friendly and outgoing nature that he fitted in well with his peers at Townsville Station. He was affectionately known as the Gentle Giant and the only real concern was whether he would actually fit into the ambulance. Standing tall, at 6ft 7inches, that was always going to be a challenge.

Jamie came from a sporting background playing State League Basketball and volleyball. Admittedly, his height was

always an advantage. He also played A Grade Rugby Union and League.

In 1998, Jamie married Melinee and the couple are parents to three children - Noelani, aged 13, Kavakore, nine, and Tichalla is six years. Amazingly, but not surprisingly given the type of fellow he is, Jamie and Melinee also have fulltime care of 11 year old nephew Jeremiah.

After qualifying as an Advanced Care Paramedic in 2006, Jamie’s wish was to transfer to Thursday Island, located in the Torres Strait, and was ultimately successful – transferring to QAS Thursday Island Station in April 2009. Part of Jamie’s job role was to perform flight paramedic duties on a certain number of shifts each fortnight. On average, each rostered day on the helicopter resulted in at least two patient retrievals around the Torres Strait. Jamie estimates he would have done approximately 60 retrievals during his time on the island.

On 9 November 2009, Jamie had his first operational winch. The crew, flying a Bell 412 helicopter, were tasked to retrieve a cardiac

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Cover story

QAS colleagues visit Jamie in hospital.

patient from the container ship Maersk Duffield, located at sea 132km west of Horn Island. Thankfully perhaps, Jamie cannot remember the particular events of this day.

Unfortunately, Jamie and the rescue crewman suffered serious injuries during the winching operation when they fell approximately 10 meters to the ships’ deck. Both were injured, Jamie’s injuries were critical. He suffered multiple fractures to his spine, ribs, both arms and pelvis. He also had bilateral haemopneumothoracies.

Jamie was extricated via another helicopter and reports are, although

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initially knocked out, was telling his fellow rescuers how to treat him – in true paramedic fashion.

Jamie was soon sedated, ventilated and airlifted via a Careflight jet to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane – a place he would call home for the next 12 months.

After spending the first three months overcoming his injuries, Jamie was finally released from the intensive care unit to the spinal ward for extensive rehabilitation.

As a result of fractures to his cervical spine, and subsequent cord damage, Jamie was diagnosed a quadriplegic.

Having endured many operations and much pain during his time in hospital, Jamie was not about to give up. He found the drive and determination to get out of hospital, eager to return home to Townsville. The move out of hospital required highly specialised equipment including a wheelchair and a modified Mercedes sprinter van. Melinee recalls Jamie’s back seat driving and a few funny stories involving Jamie not being strapped in. Her strength is amazing and Jamie’s sense of humour has never changed.

AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2011

cover story

“From golf days to a Kokoda Trial walk,

24‑hour marathons, kayaking, running, cycling right through to a cupcake challenge, if ambos think of it, it happens.

”

Jamie with United Voice officials.

The cost of Jamie’s care and this specialised equipment was significant and the process of a Workcover claim began.

Jamie and Melinee particularly acknowledge QAS Workplace Health and Safety Paramedic Rod Powell for the enormous amount of assistance he gave in this area.

Jamie and Melinee also became very aware of how the ambulance family works together. Local ambos assisted with renovating Jamie’s two-story townhouse in preparation to be sold, enabling the Jackway’s to finance a purpose built, and wheelchair friendly, home.

A concerted effort from staff from around Queensland was in full swing when then QAS Commissioner David Melville launched the Jamie Jackway Appeal.

From golf days to a Kokoda Trial walk, 24-hour marathons, kayaking, running, cycling right through to a cupcake challenge, if ambos think of it, it happens.

The enormous effort of staff ultimately gained great community support. The donations and offers of help have been significant but more work is still to be done.

Businesses right around Queensland have donated materials for the muchneeded construction of the new wheelchair friendly Jackway home in Townsville. Concrete, tapware, paint and painters, air conditioners, solar panels, roofing materials, cupboards, windows and doors, the list is extensive. With the majority of these items donated, the cost to build this new home for Jamie and Melinee has been greatly reduced.

AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2011

Pallet loads of donated materials from the southeast corner of Queensland were transported for free by Toll Transport – all organised by the Transport Workers Union. Jamie is a member of United Voice (Queensland Ambulance Section) and Hall Payne Lawyers are looking after his pending legal case.

The house is currently 80 percent complete and the next major working bee will include landscaping and irrigation.

Jamie hopes to be in the new family home before Christmas 2011.

Jamie would like to particularly acknowledge the work of the QAS family during his time in hospital. Melinee and family were provided with a car and motel accommodation not far from the hospital.

QAS Liaison Officers Tony King and Mike Day have provided enormous support and ensured Jamie and his family never went without.

The Jamie Jackway QAS appeal wound up in May 2011 after raising $65,000. This was due specifically to the enormous amount of work done by fellow ambos Bob Glenister and Richard Galeano to form the Jamie Jackway 2012 Foundation and, more recently, the Australian National Paramedic Support Foundation (ANPSF).This foundation was formed due to the amount of work underway around the state and the need to co-ordinate the fine efforts and ensure the needs of Jamie and Melinee in the challenge to build their new home were met.

The main aim is to ensure the ANPSF can continue to support the Jackway family and to ensure that any ambulance staff member who may need assistance in the future has

an established foundation to support them.

Hopefully this story demonstrates the ongoing need for paramedics, who face daily challenges right across our country, to continue looking out for one another, be safe in our workplaces, and know that our work mates can and will support each other in times of need. Above all, to hopefully ensure that we all come home safe from our shifts – wherever we may be located.

Aaron Harper is a QAS ICP Flight Paramedic, based at the Townsville Emergency Management Queensland Airwing.Aaron wrote this article with the permission of his friends, Jamie and Melinee Jackway, who would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to everyone who has helped along their journey so far.

More about Jamie Jackway’s amazing journey can be viewed at www.ambulanceactive.com.au

About the ANPSF The Australian National Paramedic Support Foundation (ANPSF) was established as a result of QAS paramedic Jamie Jackway, who was tragically injured in a rescue chopper accident and now faces life as a quadriplegic. The foundation is an independent not-for-profit charity, operated by a voluntary Board of Directors and Advisory Board.

It is a registered charity and all donations are tax deductible.

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active places

Community Paramedic model flawed Donelle Carver, Vice President Ambulance Employees Association (WA) A few months ago I temporarily left Perth to board a plane for Kununurra, to take up a position as relief for the Remote Community Paramedic - a program being introduced to support volunteers in remote and rural areas in Western Australia.

Being someone who grew up in the beach side suburb of Manly in Sydney, and living in the WA capital since the early 1990s, the word remote took on another meaning to that of the device that opens your garage door.

My core role was to encourage, train, mentor and support volunteers to perform the everyday ambulance calls and intervene when Advance Life Support skills were required.

Kununurra is located in the centre of the Kimberley region with picturesque scenery and world-renowned attractions like the Bungle Bungle Ranges, El Questro Station and the Gibb River Road, which attract thousands of tourists to the region each year.

During my time there, we received several calls to gorges along the Gibb River Road, which required multiple agency responses due to the remoteness, and often prolonged periods to attend and retrieve patients due to no aerial assistance.

On three occasions I was called to areas for rescue and spent on average between 12 and 15 hours, and travelled up to 600 kilometres on a round trip attending these

“I am of the opinion that the Community Remote Paramedic model is flawed and does not work well in extremely remote areas like the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

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calls, with volunteers who donate their time to the community.

One call, which is prominent in my mind, was a vehicle rollover on the Gibb River Road some 300 kilometres south-south-west of Kununurra. A volunteer crew responded in the Mercedes van, while I was in the personnel carrier alongside a volunteer officer. The police followed shortly after.

The call was late in the afternoon and by dusk we arrived to cross the Pentecost River. The ambulance became stranded and as night fell, police officers were on the bonnet of their vehicle with firearms keeping the inquisitive crocodiles at bay while we winched the ambulance out of the river.

We finally reached the scene and discovered a female with a spinal fracture and others with simple fractures and bruising. Attempts were made to evacuate by the Flying Doctor but no suitable airstrip was nearby. A lengthy road trip back to Kununurra was the only option, arriving at 1 am the next morning.

The injured woman was flown out of Kununurra with a C2 spine fracture.

After nine weeks, and virtually attending calls as a single responder, I am of the opinion that the Community Remote Paramedic model is flawed and does not work well in extremely remote areas like the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

The expectations of the organisation and the community are that, as the only paramedic within the community and region, you are expected to be available 24/7 while attempting to take adequate down time to battle fatigue.

I believe that it is a greater expectation to rely on volunteer staffing and support to provide a frontline paramedical service in an area as remote as the Kimberley region, knowing that many calls are high acuity and potentially time consuming.

I can say that the experience I gained, the sights I saw, and the types of calls I attended, would be hard matched by any officer at any station at any location in the country.

Postcards from a Kununurr

24

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Active Women

Photo: St John Ambulance (WA) Many female paramedics are facing leaving the ambulance industry as un-family friendly rosters continue to disadvantage women returning to work after having a baby.

Mums returning to work – what are the options?

Donelle Carver, Paramedic Bsc, Vice President AEAWA

“So, I’ve had my baby and I want to come back to work but I can’t work full time. What options are available to me?”

I’d like a dollar for every time a member raises that question, as there is a growing number for nursing mothers wanting to return to work.

It has also become problematic for most ambulance authorities finding positions for employees in a suitable situation for both employee and employer.

In Western Australia, the recent increase in staff as part of the State Government’s funding towards ambulance services has seen a marked increase in the numbers of female officers joining the service.

It would be almost a 50/50 split with male/female officers throughout the service with approximately 60 percent of the female workforce expected to take some form of maternity leave in the coming years.

The Ambulance Employees Association WA prepared for the introduction of part time work in previous agreements with employers in the form of job share and AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2011

casual position being made available. In the last agreement, we introduced part time but to this day management has discouraged this, preferring to corral officers into a job share arrangement or casual.

This is basically to preserve the current format of the 224 and 4x4 roster patterns, and also simplify the rolled-in-rate agreement for pay.

Many officers returning to work are not suited by the rotating roster pattern of full time or job share, and casual work is intermittent to say the least.

With the current expansion of vehicles programmed in the current financial year, officers who are not returning from maternity leave are being denied job share positions, which are being reserved for mothers, but this has officers who have family responsibilities up in arms.

Management and union are both seeking a fair and equitable resolution

to this increasing problem and acknowledge that experienced and qualified paramedics are leaving the service due to the inability to work within a family friendly roster.

The organisation is attempting to fast track paramedics with many direct entrants coming from other countries and interstate services, however this is a process that will take some years to keep the metropolitan and country fleet expanding at a manageable rate and accommodate officers wishing to continue in their chosen career.

It is fair to say the challenge is ahead and we are actively looking at other state’s programs, especially Victoria, which recently introduced a handbook jointly produced

by Ambulance Victoria members and management on policy for nursing mothers.

We are actively working to keep WA members satisfied and the expansion so desperately needed moving forward.

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WA’s mining boom Consuming the workforce and paramedics

John Thomas, President Ambulance Employees Association (WA), Paramedic BSc ASM Every time you turn on the television there is some form of advertising for the mining industry, and nowhere is more prevalent than in Western Australia’s booming north-west region.

With the current environment attracting more than 50 paramedics a year out of the workforce for industrial contracts, and the prediction that this number will almost double over the next few years, the ambulance service is facing a dilemma.

A State Government announcement about the upcoming Wheatstone Project, located off the Pilbara coast, is rumoured to attract a further 26 paramedics.

Paramedic resources in the metropolitan region are often strained by commitments to the mining sector, which are currently addressed through overtime coverage and crew shortages. This most likely will be compounded by the mining industry’s unquenchable thirst for onsite paramedics.

The Ambulance Service WA has begun looking to supplement its obligation to the mining sector by offering positions to suitably qualified paramedics from other services within Australia.

The WA mining boom is causing strain on metropolitan paramedic resources.

This has been a necessary option due to the expansion commitment given for rural and remote Western Australia to increase the current paramedics by almost 50 officers into rural and remote areas over the next three years.

It is a challenge that both management and union face to enable the current service to grow to meet increasing workloads and also service the mining industry that enables our members to diversify their work and lifestyle for a rewarding remuneration.

The unknown quantity is the expansion rumoured in the mining industry alone within Western Australia will surely see the current commitment double in the next five years, along with rural townships that will also require increased resources.

The challenge will surely be to produce enough paramedics in the coming years to supplement the increasing ambulance requirement and also satisfy an everexpanding mining industry that has an endless thirst for paramedics.

Fatigue Risk Management Policy

Communications Centre roster

TWU Survey

Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) is preparing a Fatigue Risk Management Policy in consultation with United Voice (QLD).

Management of fatigue is paramount to the welfare of United Voice members, and to the safe delivery of services to the community. The policy is a significant move forward and United Voice has endorsed the process and the implementation of a trial.

The development of a policy was directed by the Queensland Industrial Relations Committee, and is due for completion by July 2012. Members are encouraged to raise any areas of concern to enable United Voice to effectively review and amend the policy.

Health And Community Services Union Tasmania (HACSU) is proposing changes to the communications centre roster that would see the introduction of a 4x5 roster rather that the standard 4x4 service roster. The proposal also includes a new classification structure with new roles.

Members have recently rejected this management proposal, partially because the information provided by Ambulance Tasmania was incomplete and because of the significant work/life balance that would affect members who were subject to a significant roster change. Members stand to lose significant salary as a result of the change to the proposed roster.

In Brief

AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2011

The Trade Workers Union (TWU) ACT has completed the 2011 Ambulance Members Survey, ahead of negotiations for the new Enterprise Agreement. Members were surveyed on all aspects of working in the ACT Ambulance Service, from conditions and entitlements to job satisfaction, challenges and opportunities, organisation structure and strategic direction.

The survey was deliberately broad and holistic in approach, and will not only be used to inform key objectives in the upcoming Enterprise Agreement negotiations, but will be a useful tool to assist the TWU to respond to members concerns, in particular to improve work/life balance issues. More than 80 percent of front-line officers responded to the survey.

29

flashback

Events that helped shape history ACTAS ICPs Karen Yanik, Ben Lynch, Commissioner Deegan and TWU Counsel, Barrister Adam Hatcher.

ACTAS ICPs demonstrate CBR equipment.

After years of determination, the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Work Value case of 2010, which was independently arbitrated in the office of Fair Work Australia, represented the most significant Work Value decision in recent history. The TWU ran a successful public campaign over several years while preparing its case, which successfully delivered professional recognition for ACT Intensive Care Paramedics.

This recognition set the benchmark for salaries paid to Ambulance Officers, delivering an increase in base wage rates of over 21 percent for ACT Paramedics. As part of its campaign, a clinical skills demonstration day was held in 2009, with the guest of honour being Fair Work Australia Commissioner Barbara Deegan.

Fair Work Australia Commissioner Deegan and ACTAS General Manager Operations Matt Smith on board the SouthCare Helicopter.

ACTAS Flight ICP Paul Hardie demonstrates a static winch.

Ben Lynch and Karen Yanik run through a scenario.

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ACTAS Flight ICPs display retrieval packs: Counsel for the ACT Government Geofery Robinson (crouched) Geofery Wang, Commissioner Deegan, TWU Official Ben Sweaney, Counsel for the TWU Adam Hatcher.

AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2011

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Convention attendees pay attention to a presentation on Professional Registration by Jim Arneman.

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(L-R) Greg Bruce, Steve McGhie, Wayne Carty and Steve Mitchell.

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Welcoming NT’s new Paramedic Educator After almost two decades on the road, Victorian paramedic Olga Bartasek has travelled the long road to Darwin to embark on a new career.

The former Team Manager at Romsey and two year old son Nathan moved from the family’s nine-acre property in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges region in November, in time to start work with St John Ambulance as a paramedic educator.

Olga’s husband, Martin, who will also start an exciting new career as a commercial pilot with a local airline early next year, initially sparked the move.

Martin and six year old Liam will make the move after the family spends Christmas together in Victoria.

“While the move interstate was primarily for Martin’s work, I was also exploring different career options and teaching has always appealed to me,” she said.

“After 19 years on the road, the last 10 as team manager, I am looking forward to this new educator’s role,” Olga said.

St John Ambulance will start a new paramedic recruitment program in 2012, different to many other states, where on the job training will be supplemented with a three-year degree from Perth-based tertiary institute Edith Cowan University.

“The course in Darwin seems an ideal model – on the job training coupled with academic, studies,” Olga said.

“There are advantages to both academic and time on ambulance models, but in Darwin, the combination means graduates

AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2011

have the theoretical knowledge in addition to getting to know the practical aspect of the job and learn to work closely in their community.”

The new course starts next year and Olga will be teaching within the Associate Diploma course, registered with Edith Cowan University, while retaining her paramedic skill set and being available to go out on the road if required.

“I’m expecting the on-road environment to be quite different to what I’ve been used to also,” Olga said.

“In the Northern Territory, St John Ambulance still has two stretchers in their vehicles, and two passenger seats in the rear of the vehicle. I have been told it is not uncommon to have four patients in the ambulance at the one time.

“I can work Monday to Friday with no nights or weekend work,” she said.

“Having Nathan on my own with no family or ready-made friends, and therefore needing childcare, means day time work was important to secure.”

While Olga and her family were fortunate that the paramedic educator position was available, the ambulance industry too was lucky to not loose one if its most experienced professionals.

Held in high esteem from colleagues around the country, Olga’s keen interest in Industrial Relations means she has played a key advocacy role on behalf of paramedics.

“I have a strong passion for advocating for paramedics in the field, always striving to maintain equality and fairness in the

“I have a strong passion for advocating for

paramedics in the field, always striving to maintain equality and fairness in the workplace in addition to upholding basic moral rights, she said.

”

“The organisation still has a large number of volunteers they don’t have their own helicopters, they use a private company, whereas in Victoria we have had the choice of four owned and operated helicopters in different corners of the state. The other obvious difference, and challenge, will be the distances. Sometimes, we will be travelling 200-400 kilometers away from the nearest hospital.”

In addition to the career change opportunity, the paramedic educator position brings with it the family friendly hours that Olga requires for her family circumstances.

workplace in addition to upholding basic moral rights,” she said.

Olga has appeared at press conferences to highlight the shortage of paramedics and the effect it was having on existing resources. On this issue, she has also lobbied her local MPs over three major towns in the Macedon Ranges region having only one single officer on shift, effectively doing the job on their own. In collaboration with Ambulance Employees Australia (VIC), her efforts locally have resulted in Woodend now being staffed 24 hours a day, and an increase in resources at the Gisborne and Kyneton station to two paramedics on shift.

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CONTACTS

Australian Capital Territory Steve Mitchell E: smitchell@homemail.com.au P: 0416 170 477

New South Wales Greg Bruce E: GBruce@ambulance.nsw.gov.au P: 0408020609

Northern Territory Peter Schultz E: pwnschultz@bigpond.com P: 0417 831 890

Queensland Jeanette Temperley E: jeanette.temperley@unitedvoice.org.au P: 07 3291 4683

South Australia Phil Palmer and Wayne Carty E: info@aeasa.com.au P: 08 83403511

Tasmania Tim Jacobson E: tim@hacsutas.net.au P: 1300 88 00 32

Victoria Steve McGhie E: steve.mcghie@unitedvoice.org.au P: 03 9235 7661

Western Australia John Thomas E: tomo@iinet.net.au P: 0411 129797

Editor Ambulance Active Journal and Website Kristi High E: Kristi@puffafish.com.au P: 0407 366 466Â

AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2011

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competition

Caption This

For your chance to WIN Christmas cash Simply go to www.ambulanceactive.com.au and register your caption for this photo inside the Forum section on the website.

Only members of the website can participate. Haven’t registered? It’s easy. Just choose a username and password and follow the prompts. Once you’re signed-up, you can enjoy all the benefits of a social networking site that is exclusively for Ambulance Union members around the country.

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