Ambulance Victoria managers and professionals have today raised concerns that a long running pay issue may delay the Victorian Government’s reforms to the ambulance service.

The concerns have been raised with the Minister for Ambulance Services, Jill Hennessy, as it emerges that many of Ambulance Victoria’s operational managers will be paid less than the paramedics they manage.

Members of the Ambulance Managers and Professionals Association (AMPA) are critical to Ambulance Victoria’s operations: responsible for managing ambulance dispatch systems, co-ordinating emergency responses to major events such as terror attacks and bushfires, managing complex IT systems, administration support and leadership for operational paramedics.

Career progression and remuneration of paramedic managers is one of a number of issues being discussed as part of the management and administrative staff enterprise agreement negotiations with Ambulance Victoria.

‘At a time that the community expects to see an improvement in ambulance response times, the work of these managers and professionals is critical to Ambulance Victoria’s operations.’

‘Professionals in a large number of support roles are pivotal in analysing and modelling data and implementing changes to help improve the response times of front line paramedics.

‘The Andrews government has rightly delivered on its election promise to give on-road paramedics a significant pay rise earlier this year in recognition of the increasing complexity of their work which now requires more skills and qualifications than it did ten years ago.

‘Paramedic managers are required to have the same skills and qualifications, but as it currently stands, it appears Ambulance Victoria does not intend to recognise paramedic managers who are required to deliver the same complex skills. Right now, there are many instances where the managers are paid less than the paramedics they manage.

‘It means there’s no longer a defined career path for paramedics, and it creates the absurd situation where someone would have to take a pay cut when promoted into a leadership role.’ Ms Herrington said.

‘Our preference is for a negotiated outcome with Ambulance Victoria, yet if a resolution is not found AMPA members will meet to explore what actions may be necessary to end the impasse.’ Ms Herrington said.

Contact: Sharelle Herrington 0418 535 468 or Matt Harris 0418 535 468