With the release of Volume 2 of VEOHRC’s review of Ambulance Victoria on 31 March and the creation of AV’s steering committee to implement VEOHRC’s recommendations, there will be plenty of discussion about how AV makes amends for years of processes which have failed or discriminated against certain groups.
One question will be whether a level playing field moving forward will be sufficient to bring AV into the 21st century. The cartoon below provides a visual representation of the barriers that many in AV have faced for many years and what needs to be done to make things right.
Equality is the minimum standard, but to achieve equity there is going to need to be a different mindset. The barriers have harmed the careers of many talented individuals and robbed AV of valuable experience and insight. A shift in culture is going to require that those with different experiences and insights are not only in the room when and where decisions are made, but that their contributions are not ignored or dismissed.
AV – AEAV WINS ADMISSION BY AV OF RECRUITMENT FAILURES
AV has admitted to some staff that recruitment processes have not been fair and transparent in recent times. In a meeting 2 weeks ago, with staff impacted by lateral transfer inconsistencies, Libby Murphy expanded on broader issues with recruitment that the AEAV had identified. The AEAV welcomes this admission after a couple of years of certain managers within AV refusing to accept that harm was being done and that processes were failing.
You can read more about the admissions by AV HERE.
AEAV WOMEN
This week a group of AEAV women met to discuss the challenges they and their colleagues face within Ambulance Victoria and strategized ways they will support one another, build solidarity amongst AV staff, and break through the glass ceiling that exists at AV.
Are you an AV woman who would like to know more about how you can help clean up AV?
Call the union – 9287 1713.
ESTA & 60 MINUTES
Journalists have visited ESTA 000 to interview call-takers and the interim CEO Stephen Leane on staffing issues. The Age would like to speak to an ESTA 000 call-taker about their experiences working within the chronically understaffed emergency telecommunication authority. Due to media policy, it is difficult for ESTA members to speak to the media without jeopardising their career. If you are an ESTA member planning on leaving the service soon, consider what the opportunity to speak frankly to the media could mean for the workforce and, as always, call the union before speaking to the media!
AV – VACIS INTERUPTIONS
Members have been contacting the AEAV regarding their rights when dispatched to another job whilst completing their VACIS. You can read more about your rights HERE.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, AV had been putting pressure on paramedics by forcing them to respond to cases before their VACIS is complete. This results in a huge amount of additional workload and pressure on paramedics. It was an operational shortcut that was brought in despite the consequences for operational staff.
The AEAV has raised this issue with the Health Minister’s Office as an example of AV shortcuts that have added stress to the job over the years and assisted AV in under-resourcing the service.
CO-POWER
AEAV is proud to support an initiative with Co-Power where union members can take back from huge energy corporations for the benefits of people and our planet. Cooperative power is a newly formed not-for profit for Australia’s energy sector.
The revenue generated from electricity goes to supporting Co-Power’s mission of fighting poverty, tackling the climate crisis, and supporting communities.
Last year, 100% of Co-Powers profit went toward mitigating the impact of COVID-19. This year, customer members are deciding how Co-Power will spend their revenue.
To learn more and join Co-Power, visit their webpage HERE.
JOKE OF THE WEEK
A girl asks her father, “Dad, are bugs good to eat?” “That’s disgusting. Don’t talk about things like that over dinner,” the Dad replies.
After dinner the father asks, “Now, Molly, what did you want to ask me?” “Oh, nothing,” she says. “There was a bug in your soup, but now it’s gone.”
KEEP IN TOUCH
As always, if you have any issues, questions or queries, get in touch by leaving a message on 9287 1713 or email [email protected]
