This week, ADHSU members voted to defer further upskilling until the NSW Government agrees to the professional recognition that paramedics have earned. While taskforce negotiations between the HSU, the Ministry of Health and NSWA finished on a positive note, delegates are yet to receive a formal commitment for professional recognition from the Government.

For too long the Government has relied upon paramedics’ desire to be better clinicians by adding more skills and responsibilities to their scope of practice, while refusing to move on recognition and wage parity leaving NSW Paramedics the lowest paid in Australia. With the next rollout of MCPD about to commence, including a suite of higher skills and knowledge base, ADHSU members are putting their foot down.

ADHSU members are advocates for a higher clinical ceiling. Now is the time to take a stand. We must clearly show that until there is a commitment from government to recognise paramedics as professionals, members will not continue gaining more skills whilst being unacceptably underpaid.

What does this deferral mean for trainee and intern paramedics? Both P1Ts and Level 2s.

There is a zoom meeting 10am TOMORROW for all trainee and intern ADHSU members in NSWA. Dial in to better understand the current state of the Priority 1 campaign and ensure your voice is heard as a member. Zoom link will be sent out via text tomorrow.