Yesterday ADHSU delegates met with NSW Ambulance to consult on the change of rostering in Western Division. The proposed change puts Paramedic Interns onto established roster lines involving on call (but exempting P1T's from rotating through relief lines). This is a major change from the current practice of rostering them supernumerary. It will also mean that there will be fewer qualified paramedics on these rosters to undertake relief, increasing the relief obligations of qualified staff. 

While consultation continues, a proposed interim solution for stations that will imminently be affected was put to delegates at a meeting today and rejected. Delegates highlighted that this is primarily due to distrust of NSW Ambulance and their inconsistent application of P1T insertions to established lines across the state.

Additionally, despite the assurances in yesterday’s meeting that this would only affect 24-hour stations in regional areas, today we were notified that a Paramedic Intern member at a smaller station in Southern NSW had been told they would now be expected to work on an on-call line and live within the on-call area. 

It has become increasingly obvious that this is being rolled out by stealth state-wide with no consistency to business rules, risk assessments or consultation - and without any concern for P1 or P1T welfare. Delegates have demanded that NSWA immediately apply the status quo until NSW Ambulance completes proper consultation and implements an agreed process on a state-wide basis. 

Should NSWA fail to apply the status quo, delegates will call for an urgent meeting of members to decide on further action.

While consultation continues, members are encouraged to notify delegates of any rosters implemented with changes to the current business rules, with further actions to be voted on by the membership.