There is so much mixed messaging around at the moment with the airwaves consumed by the pandemic, the impact on the health sector and the end of lockdown. Every one of you is feeling the pinch, including non-emerg, ESTA staff, corporate staff, fleet and of course paramedics. Where would we be without your contributions.
So, we decided to put something together to remind you all that the community appreciates your work and that of your colleagues across the health sector. I would like to personally thank Kevin Sheedy, Julia Zemiro, Harry Garside, The Project team, Nova FM and the UWU members for their contributions.
Their message was definitely heartfelt, and we hope it gives all of you a little boost in these tough times.
In the words of the great Kevin Sheedy, you are the “Soul of Australia” and we here at AEAV are proud to support every one of you.
We will be making the full videos available in the near future.
SPARES – ENTITLEMENT TO 10 HOUR BREAK
Recently an AEAV member was woken during a 10 hour break to be told where they were working that night as a spare. Historically this meant that your 10 hour break restarted. This didn’t happen and the member was told that the EA now allows for you to be contacted in the 8th hour. There is no such condition in the EA to our knowledge, so we have written to AV requesting clarification. Once again, confusion because AV and others have refused to negotiate on conditions when rostered as Spare. It’s all well and good to say Spares shouldn’t exist but in reality, they do and have done for over 10 years.
A couple of weeks ago the Health Minister announced the Hospital Surge Support Allowance.
An ill thought-out attempt to show some recognition to frontline workers. A number of groups were left out of the announcement but the most glaring was the failure to acknowledge the contribution of private Non-Emerg. The response to the pandemic is heavily reliant on the work of NEPT. Whether the government based the payment on risk or change in practice it seems that private Non-Emerg should be acknowledged. We wrote to the Health Minister expressing our disappointment.
OzSAGE REPORT – MAINTAINING AMBULANCE SERVICE DURING COVID-19
The OzSAGE Ambulance Group has released a report which details recommendations for services to maintain ambulance service delivery through the pandemic.
Whilst some of the recommendations have been partially implemented already there is definitely plenty of room for improvement when it comes to health & safety and welfare.
Last week I had the opportunity to speak on the 7.30 Report re the current crisis and the fact that we went into the pandemic with a broken system.
A great analogy given to me is that pre-pandemic it was like the health system was driving around without a spare tyre in the boot. I added to it by saying that not only was there no spare tyre but it was using a pair of pantyhose for the fanbelt and the engine and fuel lights were flashing incessantly.
To see an excerpt from the 7.30 Report piece, click HERE.
ESTA INITATIVES ERODE CONDITIONS
The AEAV recently wrote to ESTA regarding recent temporary staffing initiatives proposed by ETSA.
The initiatives proposed by ESTA included a planned AV Operation Model into the Williams Landing SECC, the planned recruitment of NETCOMM only call takers and the advertising of flexible rosters.
Whilst we are supportive of measures to ease the burden, the AEAV is concerned these initiatives are being implemented at the expense of worker entitlements and may result in an increased and more stressful workload for ESTA employees.
AEAV membership entitles you to discounted psychometric coaching through the Institute of Psychometric Coaching (IPC). Many of our members have already used this service and done very well out of it. With AV in particular expanding the use of Psychometric Testing, to progress at all you will need to do the test.
