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Institution of the Year 2014
REGULARS From the President 05 States of Activity 08 Contacts 24
Cover photo: Vice President Ambulance Officers Union WA Donelle Carver flanked by paramedics from the New Brunswick Ambulance Service, Canada, during her tour as part of Ambulance Service WA’s Fabric Scholarship Program.
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 SPRING 2014
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:
Level 2, 310 King Street, Melbourne • GPO Box 2466, Melbourne 3001 Ph: (03) 9937 0200 Fax: (03) 9937 0201 • Email: admin@cwaustral.com.au
FEATURES 06 Tassie says no to 14 hour shifts 12 National Conference wrap-up 16 QLD Paramedics hit world stage ambos up the ante in war 19 NSW on ramping One – Reviving Queensland 21 Code Ambulance plea for protections 22 Paramedics’ in case of Ebola outbreak
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12 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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PRESIDENT
STEVE McGHIE, PRESIDENT, NCAU
the PRESIDENT OUR FOURTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE, held in Darwin, was a great success with robust conversation about national issues that affect paramedics across the country, and meaningful discussion around strategies to continue lobbying governments. When we started planning for the 2014 conference, 12 months ago, never could we have imagined that an epidemic like Ebola would make its way onto the agenda. This is an issue that does affect us and as such we have written to the Federal Health Minister calling for strict safety precautions for paramedics. We also wrote to the Minister seeking a National Standard for hospital off stretcher times for patients arriving at hospitals by ambulance. We are concerned that while there is no consistent standard amongst the states and territories about what is acceptable off stretcher time, lives are at risk. Ramping potentially delays paramedics reaching the next emergency within an acceptable response time. Most states are running local campaigns around this issue, but it is now time to take it to the Feds. At the time of going to print, we had not received a response from the Ministers office; however, we will be following up on both of these issues.
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“We are concerned that while there is no
consistent standard amongst the states and territories about what is acceptable off stretcher time, lives are at risk. Ramping potentially delays paramedics reaching the next emergency within an acceptable response time.
”
Also, as we were finalising this Summer edition of Ambulance Active, Victoria had a change of government. This could not be more welcomed by the Ambulance Employees AssociationVictoria, and I am sure I can extend this to Victorian paramedics also. We campaigned heavily, particularly over the past two years since our Enterprise Bargaining Agreement negotiations began, to remove the Napthine State Government. This even included Victoria paramedics resorting to door knocking marginal electorates to tell them about the ambulance crisis. In essence, we were asking Victorians to vote to fix the ambulance crisis. And they responded!
Paramedics were also at the polling booths, again mostly in marginal electorates, handing out how to vote cards and asking voters to put the Liberal Party last, because that’s what did with paramedics the entire time they were in government. In its first week, the new Labor government, led by Daniel Andrews, has committed to stopping the war against paramedics and has agreed to a Work Value Case before the Fair Work Commission. We are confident we are nearing the end. On behalf of the executive of the NCAU, I would like to wish you and your families and safe Christmas and a happy arrival into 2015.
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HEADER ROSTERING
TASSIE SAYS NO TO 14 HOUR SHIFTS
“Ambulance Tasmania has simply for some
time stated 14-hour shifts are no longer acceptable and they are to go.
”
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AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2014
HEADER ROSTERING
Ambulance Tasmania is in the process of attempting to amend long standing rosters. CURRENTLY, MOST ON-ROAD paramedics work on a rotational four on, four off roster. These are built on two shifts a day across the workforce, excluding branch or country stations. The current roster was agreed in 1980 and is based on a 10 hour day shift and 14 hour night shifts. The 14 hour night shift has become problematic for Ambulance Tasmania. The employer is now suggesting 14 hour night shifts carry an unacceptable level of risk under the Work Health Safety Act. Neither HACSU nor HACSU members have been provided with statistics relating to unsafe practices, incident reports, clinical errors, ambulance crashes (on duty), private vehicle crash data (off duty driving to/from work), risk assessments, hazard identification processes, risk modeling or matrixes. In mid 2013, Ambulance Tasmania started talking to staff about changing rosters. This has included briefings and surveys to members. HACSU has participated in the briefings and design of the surveys. All good so far in terms of consultation. The apparent solution is to retain the existing 4 on 4 off roster model as that’s an Award condition, but to make all shifts 12 hours long. However, when results of surveys were published about the actual look
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of the rosters there was recognition and fear these types of rosters will be problematic for members’ personal lives. Talks between the employer and the union started to break down as members voiced concerns through HACSU over the reasons for change. HACSU has produced a discussion paper on fatigue designed for Ambulance Award Employees, which was well received. We recently conducted our own survey with members subject to the Ambulance Award, and about half responded in the survey’s five-day life — this demonstrates a significant level of concern. Members are clearly stating they do not perceive that changing the pattern will change or reduce risks associated with working long hours over a sleep period and fear the extension from a 10 hour day shift to a 12 hour day will in fact increase levels of risk associated with the new pattern. Some 81 per cent of respondents to our survey stated 4 x 12 hour shifts would not improve Work Health & Safety outcomes; 73 per cent do not support the proposed roster. Some 66 per cent felt obliged to accept, fearful the 4 on 4 off roster system might otherwise be removed from the Award. Also other significant differences relate to lack of meal break provisions, finishing work on time, how to fit in part-time work around the new patterns, and how to fit in childcare and family responsibilities. Only a single meal break of 25 minutes is available for shifts of 12 hours or less under the Agreement/Award. Some 97 per cent of respondents to our survey stated this was not safe. Some 94 per cent of member respondents indicated 10-hour shifts were not too fatiguing, 69 per cent stated 12hour days shifts were not acceptable and 71 per cent of respondents believe 14hour nights are unsafe; only 35 per cent believe 12 hour nights will be safer than
14 hours, with comments indicating sleep was still being missed and a long shift still had to be managed, regardless of its finer details. Members have been asking for information about risk information, to verify control mechanisms currently available or potentially available and how they fit within the current fatigue management policy and other policies relating to the dispatching of members as they approach the end of their nominal shift. Some 65 per cent of respondents to our survey extend their shifts twice or more per shift cycle. There are little to no overlaps in the roster. One crew on, one crew off. Sometimes both crews can be sent to the same or different jobs within a few minutes of each other, thus extending the response ability of the service. Ambulance Tasmania has a significant overtime budget and most employees receive overtime payments each fortnight; more than half the respondents report working in excess of two shifts or more per fortnight in addition to their normal roster (excluding shift extensions). We recently suggested to Ambulance Tasmania it had not consulted correctly as it was not considering the views of staff. The response was curt and included a long list of meetings that had taken place. HACSU remains concerned the process has not been genuine and under section 48 of the Work Health & Safety Act (Nature of Consultation) that employees have not been given a reasonable opportunity to express views, contribute to the decisionmaking process or have their views taken into account. Ambulance Tasmania has simply for some time stated 14-hour shifts are no longer acceptable and they are to go. We hope something positive may happen in the future, but it appears more likely than not that the rosters will be simply changed and a formal dispute may arise.
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NCAU ACTIVE
Northern Territory paramedics rally.
Northern Territory BY ERINA EARLY IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY THERE is still no common ground to be found on the Enterprise Agreement negotiations with St John Ambulance Service. Negotiations have been undergoing since April 2013. There have been many Fair Work Commission appearances, with the most recent being the union application to reduce partial work ban deductions imposed by St John for members who input patient records on paper case cards. Members have engaged in a second round of protected action (writing on ambulance vehicles), and joint rallies with firefighters. At the joint paramedic and fire fighter rally several delegates spoke to the media, as this is part of the protected industrial action. Nicole Johnstone spoke to the media about the ambulance delays and was published in the NT News. St John has provided Ms Johnstone with a final warning even though this was part of the members’ protected action. This matter is now before the courts as an adverse action
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against a delegate engaging in protected industrial action. Recently St John made some concessions but back pay was still off the table. St John’s reasoning for not providing back pay is due to an increase in overtime, personal leave and engaging legal services against the union during these negotiations. At the Enterprise Agreement meeting on 21 October, St John asked the union to agree to the Fair Work Commission to arbitrate the agreement as both parties have reached an empasse. Pursuant to section 240(4) of the Fair Work Act, the Fair Work Commission only has the powers to arbitrate the bargaining dispute if there is agreement by the bargaining representatives. United Voice does not support the arbitration of these enterprise agreement negotiations. The members have clearly advised the union that these prolonged negotiations are solely due to the actions, threats and immoral conduct of St John to continually provide an agreement offer that shows a complete lack of respect and value for their employees, and which attempts to bully them into accepting these inferior offers. The actions of St John throughout these negotiations have provided a clear message to the members to the effect of, ‘Lets negotiate – but it’s my way or no way’. The progression of these negotiations is now in St John’s hands as our members have made considerable concessions to move forward. St John has been made fully aware of the majority member’s position to move forward with these negotiations and it is now time for St John management to demonstrate their appreciation of their employees and move forward with these negotiations. Members have stayed united during these negotiations and continue to unite until they are provided their reasonable request for back pay.
Queensland 2014 HAS BEEN ANOTHER challenging year for ambulance officers in Queensland. The Newman Government continues its attacks on emergency service workers by scrapping valuable rights and conditions and implementing anti-worker legislation. Morale among ambulance officers is at an all-time low. They are finding it difficult to access breaks, forced to work overtime and cover unfilled shifts on a daily basis. Fatigue levels are high and there is a fear that the ambulance service is reaching crisis level. That’s why United Voice is in the process of launching a new campaign called Code 1 Queensland - reviving Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS). The campaign will focus on reviving the service and reviving patient care. It’s a public and political campaign and will target all MPs and election candidates ahead of the upcoming state election. Delegations of ambulance officers will visit their local MP and candidates and ask them to sign a 10-point pledge committing to a range of issues essential to improving the sector. It’s still early days for the campaign but taking inspiration from Code Red in Victoria, Queensland ambulance officers will be out campaigning in the coming weeks, demanding politicians commit to reviving QAS. The campaign was prompted by the outcome of the unions’ ongoing enterprise bargaining battle with the Newman Government. The Industrial Relations Commission handed down its decision on the case in May but unfortunately it was not the outcome ambulance officers had hoped for. The greatest blow for United Voice members was the scrapping of the meal penalty allowance. It’s a financial allowance, which ambulance officers receive when they do not get a proper meal break. United Voice argued the penalty needed to remain in place to ensure QAS is financially penalised when they do not provide uninterrupted meal breaks for ambulance officers. AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2014
NCAU ACTIVE
Unfortunately, the commission sided with the government and found that the financial cost of the allowance was too high. The commission also decided to deny ambulance officers a decent wage increase and instead upheld the Newman Government’s 2.2 per cent pay increase, which is below inflation. The determination wasn’t all doom and gloom as there were some wins for United Voice members. The union succeeded in maintaining a three-month roster projection, instead of reducing it significantly. Also, the determination provides for the introduction of measures to minimise fatigue by ensuring processes are in place to make sure ambulance officers get proper breaks. The outcome of the Enterprise Bargaining case was disappointing but not surprising in the current political environment. The Newman Government is determined to make life as difficult as possible for all Queenslanders. Campbell Newman has introduced anti-worker legislation, which strips away valuable rights and conditions and also makes it more difficult for members to access their unions. It’s a constant battle between workers and the government as Campbell Newman continues to use legislation changes to implement his draconian policies. The Code 1 Queensland campaign aims to highlight the difficulties facing ambulance officers on a daily basis and demand that politicians show the public exactly where they stand on such important issues. One thing is for sure; you’ll be hearing a lot more about Code 1 Queensland in the near future. See page 25.
Tasmania BY CHRIS KENNEDY AMBULANCE TASMANIA WANTS TO change rosters and remove 14 hour night shifts. We believe that consultation around this issue has not been real, that the change should be on the basis of managing risk, that risk in some areas is clearly less than in others and therefore it’s not a ‘one size fits all’ solution. See page 8-9 for more. We made national headlines in April when the Tasmanian Industrial Commission (TIC) handed down a real wage increase of 14 per cent. This decision appealed by the State Government to the Supreme Court of Tasmania. The matter concluded in mid November with the last hearing. The decision was still unknown at the time of print. The matter may head back to the TIC with guidance from the Supreme Court or a possibility is that the matter may be quashed AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2014
Help Tassie paramedics by joining the #Priority1 on Facebook and Twitter.
in full and then a new work value case would need to be run. We certainly are optimistic that the later will not occur. Our members have not seen a cent of the pay rise to date. The new Tasmanian Liberal Government recently announced a Bill to parliament to freeze all public sector pays and increments for a minimum of 12 months. This was combined with some new regulatory powers that effectively stripped away the rights to bargain if you are a public sector worker, forever. The Bill was looking to be defeated by the upper house due to the ‘sneaky inclusions’, so the government publically stated they had withdrawn it. However, this did not actually happen. As part of their electioneering, the Liberals had announced reducing the whole of public sector by 500 positions of the term of their government, with front line services (whatever that is) not at risk. They have now settled on 861 jobs to go before the end of this financial year with no front line jobs guaranteed, with threats about further cuts in future years. The unions suggested prior to the election, based on promises made that 1,500 jobs would be at risk under this Liberal Government, that we were scare mongering. This will be contentious for some time. The current Ambulance Tasmania Agreement is about to expire and we should be bargaining now. But, due to the impact of the above two items, we have not even commenced. We are assuming that the Bill will not become legislation and we will have the ability to bargain at some time. We have recently launched the #Priority1 campaign designed to help get public attention to put more resources into the
HACSU Ambulance Employees Sub Branch President James Watkins speaks to the media about its #Priority1 campaign.
Ambulance and health sector. We have started with ‘Fix Ramping’ as this was media topical at the time and also is going to be more and more problematic with public health sector cuts. This campaign will be focusing on all things ambulance and from time to time will help drive debate within Tasmania about what needs fixing within the service, such as establishment numbers, resourcing, budgets, rosters, meal breaks, fatigue and ramping. Please join our campaign on facebook, Priority1HACSU, and twitter, @priority1HACSU. continued on page 10
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NCAU ACTIVE
Ambulance Employees Association Victoria campaign, Code Red.
continued from page 09
Victoria BY AMANDA KACZMAREK AFTER TWO YEARS OF NEGOTIATIONS, Enterprise Bargaining continues. The key outstanding issues include wages, the agreement expiry date, the removal of all union facilitation, introduction of rural reserve and the temporary reserve allowance (metro). Ambulance Victoria is not interested in negotiating a new agreement as evidenced by the fact the last meeting between the parties occurred on 3 September 2014. To date, there is no bargaining meeting scheduled despite the union writing to Ambulance Victoria on four occasions inviting them to further discussions. The Code Red campaign continues to grow and has energised the membership. There is strong public support for our campaign and this is being expressed in the media and elsewhere. Our Facebook
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page has almost 26, 000 followers and members and community supporters have been busy leafleting and door knocking in their local communities to increase awareness about the campaign. Members from National Patient Transport (NPT) became the first private sector ambulance employees to take industrial action ever in Victoria this year. After rejecting a 10 per cent wage increase over three years and two rounds of protected industrial action ballots members through their solidarity achieved a 12 per cent wage increase over three years and a $500 sign-on bonus, which is a great outcome. Negotiations for a new enterprise agreement with Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) began in November 2012 and concluded in June 2014. Members receive a 2.9 per cent wage increase this year and CPI wage increases for the next two years. Members will also be able to access salary packaging for the first time. Paramedic Services Victoria is refusing to negotiate with the union for the first ever enterprise agreement between the parties. The union has served a log of claims on
the company and members have organised and signed a petition stating that they want the Union to bargain on their behalf. The next step in the process will be the Union seeking a good faith bargaining order from the Fair Work Commission. On the disputes front, the dismissal of a MICA flight paramedic for a delayed response time was held to be harsh by the Fair Work Commission, who declined to reinstate the member. He received 26 weeks in compensation. A paramedic dismissed for allegedly making derogatory comments on social media about Ambulance Victoria management settled for 16 weeks in compensation. Teams at two regional stations Thomastown and Horsham - have notified disputes to Fair Work Commission over rosters. At Thomastown, members are seeking a trial of an eight hour roster. The relocation of the accounts receivable department from Doncaster to Ballarat has created a number of redundancies for members. The matter is currently in the FWC as parties work through the redeployment process. AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2014
NCAU ACTIVE
South Australia BY ANDREW REID THE AMBULANCE EMPLOYEES Association in South Australia has had a very full 2014 with a number of challenges and opportunities. Elections at the end of last year brought some renewal with new members on both State Council and Executive committees. In the second half of 2013, SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) had a change in CEO, with Ray Creen heading to New South Wales and Robert Morton being appointed, coming from the equivalent role in Ireland. Whilst the AEA’s initial impressions of Morton were cautiously optimistic, the passage of time has caused a great deal of concern. The new CEO seems to have the same, tired old strategy of doing more with less; code for our members being made to carry the weight of an inadequately resourced system. In lieu of any sort of official or written plan for the future, the CEO has travelled across the state espousing many a concerning ‘thought bubble’, canvassing opinions as wildly radical as no meal breaks for ambos, a reduction in the clinical qualification of emergency crews and curtailing hard-won entitlements, all in the name of saving a buck. It’s in these times that the AEA is placed in a dual-role; our first priority will always be our members, however the kind of recklessly irresponsible ideas being floated by Mr Morton have the potential to devastate the standard of care provided to be community also, leaving it to us to advocate for decent standards of ambulance care in South Australia. Our members will vigourously defend themselves and the community against the kind of havoc wreaked upon Ireland. Everyone deserves better. Not entirely surprisingly, given the context above, SAAS announced their intention to introduce casual paramedics into the emergency stream earlier this year. The AEA reminded SAAS of their obligations under the enterprise agreement regarding consultation; subsequently, a process of proper consultation was established by the AEA. SAAS has an unhappy history with casuals. A deeply flawed country casual model was disbanded over 10 years ago by agreement with the AEA and management. The membership is deeply sceptical of the proposal put forward by SAAS and provided some 13,000 words of feedback when the AEA initiated consultation. The AEA believes there are better ways to solve issues of flexibility and we continue to AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2014
negotiate with SAAS to explore them. Three issues combined into something of a perfect storm with an acute-on-chronic lack of resources across all areas of the service, the service’s inability to provide members with a timely meal break and a recurrence of ramping leaving the AEA no choice but to notify a dispute in the Industrial Relations Commission. Whilst the process to date has been frustratingly slow, the fruits of our labours are beginning to show. The IRC process has already resulted in SAAS acknowledging their staffing shortfalls and finally releasing performance data that supports what members have been saying all along — they’ve never been so busy and they need help. Additional crews have been put on in a temporary format and the AEA is continuing to lobby for a permanent solution to the resourcing crisis facing SAAS. We are now entering the window in which Enterprise Bargaining negotiations can commence. As yet, the employer has made no official approach to commence the bargaining process.
Western Australia BY SEAN HICKEY AND SHANNAN BRADLEY PARAMEDICS IN WA STARTED Enterprise Bargaining Agreement negotiations in March 2014, with a Log of Claims that addresses serious concerns including fatigue management, proximity and rural allowances. Throughout the year, St John Ambulance (SJA) has put three offers forward, with the final offer resulting in a strong NO vote from members. Negotiations continue and although it has been a tough fight so far, a new and invigorated bargaining committee is determined to get the best offer for members. Since the NO vote, United Voice WA is back at the table negotiating with SJA. A strong counter proposal was sent to SJA and there have already been vast improvements from the last offer including: • Grandfathering of the day trucks and the 10/14 rosters for the next three years • Increase to the break between shifts • A big win for the north-west allowance, receiving 2 per cent yearly increases and the proximity allowance will be staying for at least the next three years. The union is currently undergoing a generational change, revamping the culture
and decision making of the committee. We are striving to achieve a more balanced committee, with a demographic representation across all shifts, age, gender and location. We acknowledge the need to engage more with our younger members who are the future of this union, and we are not afraid to embrace social media or to change with the times.
New South Wales BY GREG O’DONOHUE FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF A FOUR year deal that saw salary increases in excess of 16 per cent, we were stuck this year with the realisation of a conservative government and received only a 2.27 per cent increase in salary in line with the rest of NSW government sector employees. The HSU has lodged an application with the Industrial Relations Commission to vary the Ambulance Award to include a classification of Critical Care Paramedic (Aeromedical) with a salary rate commensurate with that of Clinical Educator. This application is for the purpose of recognising the skill level of these paramedics and also is a good test of the Governments wages policy. The Death and Disability Award has been in place since 2008 and was designed to provide benefits on cessation of employment in the event that an on duty or off duty injury results in the death or total and permanent disablement or partial and permanent disability of an officer. The scheme worked by way of 1.8 per cent of salary being contributed by the employee and up to 3.6 per cent of salary being contributed by the employer. Unfortunately the Government is saying that their contributions are set to rise above 3.6 per cent and as such wish to terminate the scheme. Negotiations are continuing. A growing and ageing population has seen significant increases in workload with no corresponding increase in staffing levels. This has led to increases in response times and an ever-increasing expectation that more is to be done with less. This right wing economic agenda of cutting public services is leading to things such issues as trainees being used to fill holes in the roster in the Hunter region, refusal to fill vacancies in Goulburn and an increase in the number of missed crib breaks. These increases in workload and demand have got to the point where staff are not putting their name down for overtime as they want to spend some time with the family.
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NCAU CONFERENCE 2014
NATIONAL CONFERENCE WRAP-UP The NCAU annual conference was held in Darwin on 23 and 24 October with every state represented by 43 delegates in attendance.
NCAU PRESIDENT STEVE MCGHIE opened Conference and welcomed the competition winners – Olga Bartasek, Grant Prendergast and Clare Blanchfield. See more on the next page. He then went on to present and tabled the President’s Report before introducing NCAU Secretary Greg Bruce. In his report, Mr Bruce aid it was great to see unity between the Queensland and Victorian campaigns, acknowledging that other states had learnt from them. He spoke on national issues such as Fringe Benefit Review, National Registration and the National Code of Conduct and Paramedic Workforce Study, which NCAU now has a voice during consultation through its growing profile. Industrial reports were tabled by each state and Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia presented.
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Jim Arneman provided an update on professional registration and this has been circulated to state delegates. Please ask your state delegate for a copy. Ebola is topical and information was
shared among the delegates. As this is a national issue, NCAU followed up the conference discussion by writing a letter to Federal Health Minister The Hon Peter Dutton MP.
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NCAU CONFERENCE 2014
The letter explained to the Minister that conference delegates carried the following resolution as a way to ensure that the best and consistent processes are applied: “In order to best protect ambulance staff and patients from infectious diseases such as Ebola, The National Council of Ambulance Unions (NCAU) recommends that all ambulance employees should be provided with Enhanced Level D Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as a minimum which includes: • Properly fitting P2 masks or higher level respirator • Medical grade protective goggles with full face seal • Non-permeable full body overalls (tyvek suits or higher) • Gloves • Disposable booties. All personnel should have an appropriate level of training in donning and doffing PPE to ensure minimal risk of contamination. All ambulance services should immediately update their policies, procedures, training and equipment to reflect best practice. Each organisation should take steps to ensure crews are provided with relevant information prior to arrival at a scene, including changes to communications and dispatch systems as required.”
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The NCAU asked the Minister to consider the resolution carried, which will ensure that the State and Territory governments and the respective ambulance services implement appropriate safety precautions. The NCAU also wrote to the Minister about ambulance ramping and the need for a national standards policy. No response has been received on this issue either.
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NCAU CONFERENCE 2014
WINNERS TELL ALL The NCAU sponsored three members to attend its annual conference, all expenses paid. Grant Prendergast (HSU NSW), and Clare Blanchfield and Olga Bartasek from AEAV won the trip by entering a competition explaining why they wanted to go to the conference. Grant and Olga have provided an insight into what they took home from the Northern Territory capital after attending the NCAU Annual Conference 2014.
Grant Prendergast NSW HSU With the assistance of Linda Ruben from United Voice in Victoria who made all my travel arrangements, I travelled to Darwin on 22 October to attend the NCAU 2014 Conference. This was with sponsor ship from the NCAU. I was one of three selected to attend, along with Olga and Clare from Victoria. Having been a member of the NSW North Coast sub branch of the HSU this gave me the opportunity to renew old friendships as well a meet delegates from all over Australia. During the conference, with reports from each states and subsequent discussion, it is clear to all that there are common themes that impact on the careers and day to day activities of paramedics Australia wide. Some of the common themes that emerged are Staffing, Meal breaks and overtime,
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(L-R) Olga Bartasek, Grant Prendergast and Clare Blanchfield.
I am an experienced paramedic with the NSW Ambulance “ and an active member of the HSU for thirty years. Enormous change is occurring and the NCAU is at the forefront of representing paramedics. I wish to attend NCAU Darwin and be involved in showing paramedics the importance of maintaining conditions and fighting for the future of our profession.
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GRANT PRENDERGAST – ICP NSW Ambulance HSU Member Ramping, Parental leave, Aggression and violence towards paramedics and the ongoing difficulty of negotiating fair pay and conditions in relation to Enterprise agreements and awards. This conference is an ideal forum to provide information sharing between the various ambulance industrial bodies and provides an ideal base to prevent fracturing and disenfranchisement when dealing with Ambulance management groups on a national basis There was vigorous discussion of identified issues between the states and this activity was facilitated and directed by the executive committee. The NCAU was formed six years ago and the members of the executive and
various state delegates appear to have formed a cohesive group. Out of this current group in 2014 there has been identified a number of issues that the NCAU is able to take a national stance upon, and this collaborative approach provides a strong national united approach to those issues that impact on Australian Paramedics. In closing, I would like to thank NCAU President Steve McGhie and his executive for this opportunity as well as all delegates for their input and camaraderie during the two days in Darwin. Thanks and congratulations should also go to the Northern Territorians for their organisation of what was an enjoyable and successful conference. AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2014
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The conference sponsorship winners stayed at the Sky City Hotel, where the conference was held.
I am a young, “ enthusiastic, and extremely
The Northern Territory sun sets on another successful conference.
Olga Bartasek AEAV DELEGATE AND STATE COUNCILLOR Well, what a wonderful location for a conference. I have been an AEA Victoria delegate for over 15 years and had the opportunity to work in Darwin as a paramedic educator for two years (2011‑2013). So it was great to get back to Darwin and catch up with comrades and lasting friends. I was thrilled to be provided with this year’s opportunity to attend due to a sponsorship from the NCAU executive, along with Grant Prendergast from NSW and fellow Victorian Clare Blanchfield. So I would like to thank the NCAU for this welcome opportunity and Linda Ruben for organising my trip. For me it was my third NCAU conference and I do hope not my last. At each conference I have gathered so much information from the other services across the country.
My particular passion at the moment is advocating for paramedics that need or want to work part time or flexible working hours. I was interested to listen to how the other states were dealing with this issue. It was very interesting to hear that all the states have more than 40 per cent female employees, here in Victoria we have more than 50 per cent. Given that it is mostly females that become the primary carers for any children, then working hours is a real issue for everyone. I learnt that a couple of the states were coping ok with this demand for change to working hours, but on the whole, each state was either working on it or were not doing very well at all. We have organised some sharing of information on this topic and I hope to gather this together and work on some solutions that can be presented to Ambulance Victoria and hopefully to all the other states.
I would love to attend the NCAU conference in 2014. I know “ this will be an invaluable opportunity to gain knowledge and skills from highly experienced people. I truly want to continue learning about our union and how we can work with our interstate colleagues to provide the best services and working conditions for our members.
“
OLGA BARTASEK AV ALS PARAMEDIC AEA-V Delegate and State Councillor United Voice VIC Branch Representative
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passionate individual who has a vision for this extraordinary profession. I want to be an individual that positively contributes to a team, working together to achieve the same goals for our communities. I could really benefit from attending; valuing and sharing my experience.
”
CLARE BLANCHFIELD Ambulance Victoria AEAV Member It was fabulous to see that through the NCAU, as Grant stated, there are many of the same issues in all the services across the country. One of these issues being the global Ebola virus threat. AEA Victoria Assistant Secretary Danny Hill drew attention to this and the level of safety equipment that should be provided to protect all our members. A resolution to have all Australian Ambulance Services provide adequate training and Level D Personal Protective Equipment for all ambulance employees across the country, was passed unanimously and some positive media coverage was provided in the NT. Again I would like to thank NCAU president Steve McGhie and the executive for the opportunity to attend this conference. Thanks also to the event organisers including United Voice NT Industrial Officer Erina Early, Secretary Matthew Gardiner and my delegate friends in the NT for a fantastic venue and great time.
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HEADER WORLD PARAMEDIC CHALLENGE
QLD PARAMEDICS HIT WORLD STAGE
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AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2014
HEADER WORLD PARAMEDIC CHALLENGE
A team of United Voice paramedics are heading to Baltimore in the US to take part in the World Paramedic Challenge early next year. THE TEAM CONSISTS OF KROY DAY, Lawrence Odlin, Simon Houston and Casey James. The invitation to compete in the world challenge in 2015 came after the team took part in the Ferno Australia Paramedic Simulation Challenge on the Gold Coast. The event attracted international teams
AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2014
from the UK, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and New Zealand, as well as Australian teams.
The challenge aims to explore team performance, clinical excellence and communication skills by putting participants through a simulation of an emergency situation. Queensland Police and Fire personnel also took part in the challenge, assuming their normal roles in order to add realism to the event. The inclusion of loud and inquisitive bystanders also made the simulation very realistic. Clinical skills and the ability of the team leader to command, control and communicate in and around the incident were assessed. The United Voice team performed extremely well in the challenge and are looking forward to competing in the world challenge in February.
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Issued by Emergency Services Superannuation Board ABN 28 161 296 741 the Trustee of the Emergency Services Superannuation Scheme ABN 85 894 637 037 (ESSSuper). This information is of a general nature only. You may benefit from seeking professional advice from a licensed financial planner or adviser. Before making a decision about an ESSSuper product, read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) available at www.esssuper.com.au or by calling 1300 650 161.
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The Traumatic Stress Clinic is an internationally renowned treatment and research centre for Posttraumatic Stress. It offers treatment for current and former ambulance officers who are experiencing ongoing distress related to traumatic events experienced during their careers. • • • •
Free treatment independent from ambulance agencies individual treatment with clinical psychologists confidential environment using evidence based psychological treatment • two locations: Westmead Hospital and the University of NSW, Randwick • twenty years’ experience treating ambulance officers No need for a referral, just call or visit our website.
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HEADER RAMPING
NSW AMBOS UP THE ANTE IN WAR ON RAMPING NSW ambos are joining their colleagues around the country in the war on ramping, demanding the introduction of an off‑stretcher time at both the State and Federal level.
IN OCTOBER THE NATIONAL COUNCIL of Ambulance Unions passed a motion calling on all states that do not have an agreed offload time to demand one. Currently the ACT and South Australia are the only states that have one. Ramping, or trolley block as it is more commonly known, is notorious not only in Sydney but across NSW. It happens when ambulances back up at peak times and have to wait to offload their patients due to a lack of beds. Every second counts when it comes to getting patients to hospital, but recent shocking media reports revealed nearly 500 patients between April and June 2014 had to wait over 28 hours in a Sydney hospital car park to see a doctor. And as ADHSU Councillor Greg Bruce AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2014
points out the situation is only getting worse. “The same Auditor General’s report stated ‘that ambulances wait longer at hospital emergency departments today than in previous years. Each day the Ambulance Service loses an average of 18 ambulances on the road due to hospital delays greater than 30 minutes, potentially costing $13.6 million annually to replace. This is an increase from six ambulance crews seven years ago. “There is no doubt that this leads to poor response performance, and hospital delays are the reason for it, yet the government seems to be unable to do anything about it. “Our job is out in the community and that’s where we should be but we are all too often stuck in hospitals. Imagine how a mother feels when she is left waiting 28
hours in a parking lot for a bed for her sick kid. Something has got to give.” The same report noted: “It is important that paramedics spend as little time as possible at emergency departments so that they can respond to other triple zerocalls in the community. Even a five minute delay might mean the difference between life and death for someone waiting for an ambulance.” The ADHSU has written to the Health Minister Jillian Skinner calling for an off-stretcher time of no greater than 20 minutes to be set. This would be made up of: • Five minutes to triage the patient and • Fifteen minutes to offload the patient onto a hospital bed and out of paramedics’ care.
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STUDY POSTGRAD PARAMEDICAL SCIENCE AT ECU ECU’s Master of Paramedical Science course provides the opportunity for paramedic specialty study in either Critical Care or Community Paramedicine. It’s designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to practise in an extended care (or scope) paramedic role. Our Master of Disaster and Emergency Response course focuses on ‘response’, and providing the emergency services practitioner with a broad understanding of dealing directly with issues associated with coping and coordinating the scene of a major incident or disaster, and providing support to those involved. Entry into these courses is open to people who have an existing relevant Bachelor degree or equivalent prior learning with at least five years appropriate professional experience. For more information, call 134 ECU (134 328), email futurestudy@ecu.edu.au or visit reachyourpotential.com.au
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HEADER EBOLA
PARAMEDICS’ PLEA FOR PROTECTIONS IN CASE OF EBOLA OUTBREAK
By Saoirse Connolly
The ADHSU, in association with the National Council of Ambulance Unions (NCAU), is demanding protections for paramedics in the event of an Ebola outbreak. REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NCAU have written to the country’s health ministers seeking consistent national guidelines on how to respond to the virus. ADHSU Ambulance Councillor Steve Fraser says paramedics are particularly at risk given they are the first point of contact.
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“It’s scary for paramedics,” Mr Fraser said. “We are the first response to a call for help in a shrinking world where people can travel the globe in a day. “If we’re walking into a highly contagious environment without the proper protection, we’re at risk and someone is going to bring that disease
back home to their family.” At the recent NCAU conference in Darwin, a motion was passed to urgently address at a national level paramedic protection standards at confirmed or suspected Ebola cases. The motion calls for protective clothing and equipment for all AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2014
HEADER EBOLA
ambulance employees as well as training in the donning and doffing of the protective clothing to minimise risk of contamination. Mr Fraser said all ambulance services should update their policies and procedures immediately to reflect best practice and ensure emergency call centres are trained to identify potential cases of Ebola. “We need to know this is being taken seriously through a national standardised approach. Different states have different approaches but the federal government has been very slow to lead on this,” he said. HSU Secretary Gerard Hayes says the slow response from the government at a State and Federal level is unacceptable. “Doctors and nurses are being trained but paramedics are being left out,” Mr Hayes said. “We need an overall approach that takes into account the entire time a patient is in medical care and that includes everyone who may come into contact with a patient in the hospital.” At the time of writing there was still no response to paramedics’ pleas. The NSW Health directive that addresses Ebola standards can be found on the NSW Health website. http://www.health.nsw. gov.au/Infectious/alerts/Pages/EVD.aspx The ADHSU has also contacted NSW Ambulance to consolidate an adequate policy for the safety of paramedics.
ARE THOUGHT TO BE THE MOST LIKELY ORIGIN OF EBOLA VIRUS
COUNTRIES WITH EBOLA CASES 1-10 11-100 101-500
EBOLA SPIRALLING OUT OF CONTROL – KILLING A WAVE OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN ITS WAKE THE EBOLA EPIDEMIC HAS EXPOSED weak healthcare systems and left more than 5,000 people dead. This death toll is high but the number could have been even higher if not for the courage of local healthcare workers who have risked their lives to care for the sick and suffering. Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in West Africa are the countries worst affected in the biggest epidemic of Ebola since it was first identified in 1976. The deadly virus has taken the lives of prominent doctors in Sierra Leone and Liberia, depriving these countries not only of experienced and dedicated medical care but also of inspiring national heroes. Over 300 healthcare workers have died, according to the World Health Organisation, with more than 560 having contracted the disease. It cites several factors that may help explain the high proportion of infected
AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2014
medical staff: shortages of personal protective equipment or its improper use; far too few medical staff for such a large outbreak; and the compassion that causes medical staff to work in isolation wards far beyond the number of hours recommended as safe. Liberia has less than one doctor for every 100,000 people. Sierra Leone has 2.2 doctors for every 100,000 people. The Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development average is 320 per 100,000 population. The World Health Organisation has said it needs a 20-fold increase in health workers (20,000 national staff and 1,000 internationals) to combat the disease, but the international response has been less than adequate. US President Barak Obama has promised to train 500 health workers per week to work to beat back the epidemic. Australia, however, has been very slow
to respond and only recently pledged $20 million to fund a 100-bed Ebola treatment clinic being built by the United Kingdom. However, this has been marred by controversy because the government is reluctant to send Australian health workers to staff it despite many qualified practitioners raising their hand to help. The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention believe the epidemic could reach extraordinary levels, with a worst-case scenario of 1.4 million cases by January 2015 if something drastic isn’t done to stop the spread. People are also dying from other diseases as the already scarce health resources in the region go to Ebola. Speaking at the United Nations International President of Médecins Sans Frontières Dr Joanne Liu said ‘Mounting numbers are dying of other diseases, like malaria, because health systems have collapsed.’
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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: 0408 020 609
Northern Territory Erina Early E: erina.early@unitedvoice.org.au P: 0400 030 834
Queensland Kroy Day kroy.day@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 Fran Hebden E: fran.hebden@unitedvoice.org.au P: 08 9388 5400
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AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2014
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