Northern Rivers Paramedics to benefit from landmark pay negotiations

By Sarah Waters

Northern Rivers Paramedics and their colleagues throughout the state have walked away from a pay dispute with the NSW Government far better off.

Last Wednesday, the state government reached an agreement with the Health Services Union (HSU) on a record pay increase for paramedics.

Almost, 5000 paramedics will receive an average wage increase of 25 per cent over four years - with increases ranging from 11 to 29 per cent - depending on the paramedics’ level of experience.

The pay increase will bring the base salary of a year six paramedics from $79,737 to $88,082 on July 1 next year.

Further increases mean that by July 2026, a year six paramedic will have a base salary of $103,361, while the base pay of critical care paramedics will increase from $98,390 to $127,261.

The base pay of a specialist year three paramedic increases from $90,711 to $117,328.

The agreement followed two years of relentless campaigning by the Ambulance Division of the Health Services Union (HSU) to give paramedics professional rates of pay.

Prior to the pay deal being struck, NSW Paramedics were currently the lowest paid in the country.

HSU NSW Secretary Gerard Hayes said paramedics had fought tirelessly and bravely for professional recognition and salary justice.

“Our paramedics are highly skilled professionals who exercise fine clinical judgement under incredible stress,” Mr Hayes said.

“Their work saves lives - finally they will be paid for it.

“We cannot forget that the exodus of paramedics to Queensland happened under the previous government’s 12-year long wage cap,” he said.

Mr Hayes said despite sometimes having a ‘tense relationship’ with the current government, he recognised and appreciate the large task it had in rebuilding the health workforce.

In a statement, the NSW Government said the pay increase will deliver professional recognition and remuneration to reflect the move towards university qualification of paramedics.

“From the very beginning, this government wanted to deliver professional pay and recognition for paramedics, recognising their special case.

“This follows 12 years of wage suppression and a difficult fiscal position left over by the former Liberal National government.

“In delivering professional rates, our first priority is to retain our existing paramedics while still delivering critical increases in paramedic numbers where they are needed most.”

The four-year agreement will cost $500 million, which the government said will be partially funded from the Essential Services Fund and savings from the Health portfolio, including through savings associated with recruitment challenges.

If an agreement was not reached, thousands of union members were willing to let their paramedic registrations lapse from 1 January next year.

The government scrambled to come to the table with an offer that would put NSW paramedics’ pay on par with their Queensland colleagues.

If the government didn’t come through, it would have potentially resulted in a breakdown of emergency care services, including right before the new Tweed Valley Hospital is due to open.

Tweed MP Geoff Provest has supported local paramedics and union representatives in their quest for increased remuneration and professional development opportunities.

“I stood with our paramedics earlier this year and signed their petition for better pay rates and I’ll happily stand with them now,” Mr Provest said.

“This shouldn’t be political, but the Labor Government committed to better pay rates should they win the 2023 election - they won - and now they must honour their commitment.

“I strongly support our paramedics in their physically and emotionally demanding roles,” he said.

Locals for Lismore - The time to decide our future is now

Lismore residents are urged to contribute to shaping the city’s future over the next few decades. This initiative marks Lismore’s most extensive community engagement endeavor to date, inviting businesses and residents alike to share their perspectives.

Mayor Steve com.au to share their aspirations, values, priorities, queries, and apprehensions.

Krieg emphasizes the importance of community input in determining Lismore’s trajectory for the next 30 years. He stresses that locals possess valuable insights crucial for the success of the Lismore Vision and Blueprint.

The community’s active involvement is pivotal. Krieg advocates for a transparent, communitydriven approach, aiming for decisions affecting Lismore’s future to be collective and inclusive.

To achieve this, over 40 engagement sessions will provide opportunities for discussions and recommendations on Lismore’s direction.

Highlighting the community’s resilience post-floods, Krieg expresses confidence in their unity to develop a shared vision. He urges active participation in the ‘Our Time is Now’ engagement events, emphasizing that the decisions will reflect the collective voice of the people.

The consultation phase for the Lismore Vision and Blueprint extends until July 2024. Locals are encouraged to visit www.lismorenow.