Tax Funded Rosters (TFR) are the number of paramedics the NSW Government budgets for, and directly funds.

PAR is the number of paramedics the NSW Ambulance service uses to determine allegedly adequate staffing levels across the state. This number is vastly outdated and does not represent the genuine needs of NSW residents. This number does nothing to assist paramedics get their breaks, or off on time.

The gap between TFR and PAR is up to 2300 paramedics. These paramedics have been hard-fought for by ADHSU-strong communities and are being taken away by the NSW Ambulance executive.  

Further, PAR works as a Metro-wide staffing level average, meaning it does not account for over and understaffing in specific areas. (For example, Sydney Suburb A will not replace someone who has called in sick if Central Coast Suburb B is one paramedic “over PAR”, despite being tens of kilometers away). 

What’s more, is that many stations have fought hard for, and won extra resources their areas need. These resources, however, are not included in PAR, and are thus often punted away to other stations and zones. In some cases, entire new stations have not been included in PAR. This means that if every person at these stations have called in sick (or are injured), there would be no obligation to replace any of them.  

ADHSU members have strong, proud traditions of fighting for more resources for their communities.  Despite winning these resources, the NSW Ambulance (NSWA) executive continuously moves these resources out of their allocated communities to save their budget. 

So, what does all this mean?