Vic ambo online campaign

Date: 02 July 2008

Ambo morale crisis could see 700 Victorian ambos walk away and sink govt recruitment plans

Thirty six percent of Victorian ambos may walk away from their jobs because of dissatisfaction with fatigue and other work issues, an ambulance union survey has found.

Among those considering leaving their jobs, 76% say a key reason is because work-related fatigue is affecting their health.

Fifty-four percent of those surveyed say paramedic morale is poor, very poor or terrible. Less than five percent say morale is very good or excellent.

The findings expose a major threat to the government's plan to recruit 258 extra paramedics and could see emergency response times blowing out even further, Ambulance Employees Australia warned.

AEA State Secretary Steve McGhie said the findings are alarming and again highlight why paramedics' EBA negotiations must be urgently resolved.

"Losing 700 paramedics would devastate our ambulance service. In many emergencies you might as well send a hearse."

"These findings also show that even if the government can recruit another 258 paramedics it will be like pouring water into a colander unless problems like fatigue are quickly resolved."

"Ambos are fed up with the huge toll their jobs are taking on their health, their safety and their personal life. The price is just too high."

"But we can fix this. A major EBA demand is for 10-hour rest breaks between shifts. Sixty-six percent of these ambos considering leaving say longer rest breaks would persuade them to stay, along with improved wages and conditions."

"That's why we need our EBA urgently resolved, so we can recruit and retain the paramedics Victoria needs, now and into the future."

The findings are the second part of an online survey conducted in mid-June with more than 350 Victorian paramedics or nearly 20% of the workforce.

Fifty-percent say they do not think being paramedic is an attractive career choice currently, despite being credited as Australia's most trusted profession.

McGhie said that he hoped that the government could recruit the 258 paramedics but he feared they would really struggle.

"Early this year Rural Ambulance Victoria began recruiting 100 more ambos."

"But they won't get anywhere near that number. They can't find them. They've had to revise their target down to just 59."

The AEA launched an online campaign today at www.responsetime.org.au asking the public to support ten-hour rest breaks.

For further information

WWW:	http://www.responsetime.org.au/

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