The situation...
The people of NSW highly value Paramedics (This includes on-road Paramedics and Operations Centre staff, clinical and non-clinical) and the vital work they do and we are sick of hearing promises to fix the Ambulance Service of NSW and then reading death notices. We are sick of families, careers and lives being destroyed by a broken organisation.
In recent months is has come to the public’s attention (again), after a number of tragic suicides, that there are systemic and institutional issues in the Ambulance Service of NSW . As highlighted by the recent death of Paramedic Tony Jenkins there has also been added to these the unquantifiable issue of medication abuse by staff. The pattern and frequency of suicides, mental health issues, attrition, violence and now substance abuse in the the Ambulance Service of NSW is not the cause of the issues in NSW Ambulance but are only symptoms of much deeper issues that have not been adequately addressed and have worsened over recent years.
After the last Parliamentary Inquiry into the destructive culture of bullying in the Ambulance Service of NSW and promises that the Ambulance Service of NSW had “already commenced a pathway to fixing the issues” and was “committed to fixing the issues identified”; it appears, nothing has changed. The number of suicides and related mental health issues has only increased in the years since these promises were made after the inquiry. Disappointingly, after recent public scrutiny and political pressure to fix these issues, the Ambulance Service of NSW is once again making the same promises that “so much has been done” and “we are committed to fixing the issues”. The reality is that there has been no proof to support the promises that any internal undertaking by the Ambulance Service will result in any improvement in the culture and support of staff and stop the terrible toll on staff. An internal undertaking that is not transparent, involves the players that are guilty (and will gain from perpetuating the culture), hasn’t any identified measures of success and will merely tell the community when it has decided the issues have been “fixed”.
In recent months is has come to the public’s attention (again), after a number of tragic suicides, that there are systemic and institutional issues in the Ambulance Service of NSW . As highlighted by the recent death of Paramedic Tony Jenkins there has also been added to these the unquantifiable issue of medication abuse by staff. The pattern and frequency of suicides, mental health issues, attrition, violence and now substance abuse in the the Ambulance Service of NSW is not the cause of the issues in NSW Ambulance but are only symptoms of much deeper issues that have not been adequately addressed and have worsened over recent years.
After the last Parliamentary Inquiry into the destructive culture of bullying in the Ambulance Service of NSW and promises that the Ambulance Service of NSW had “already commenced a pathway to fixing the issues” and was “committed to fixing the issues identified”; it appears, nothing has changed. The number of suicides and related mental health issues has only increased in the years since these promises were made after the inquiry. Disappointingly, after recent public scrutiny and political pressure to fix these issues, the Ambulance Service of NSW is once again making the same promises that “so much has been done” and “we are committed to fixing the issues”. The reality is that there has been no proof to support the promises that any internal undertaking by the Ambulance Service will result in any improvement in the culture and support of staff and stop the terrible toll on staff. An internal undertaking that is not transparent, involves the players that are guilty (and will gain from perpetuating the culture), hasn’t any identified measures of success and will merely tell the community when it has decided the issues have been “fixed”.
"The ambulance service has decided to relabel bullying in an attempt to exclude it from existing in their organisation. Even some of the worst and repeated physical and verbal abuse, is immediately labelled as “interpersonal conflict”.
"The PSU has an incredibly poor record of being professional while investigating staff. Investigators frequently make basic errors in law that ensure the investigation will fail, or be extensively long. If a staff member is on restricted duties then this can have a very negative effect. In fact it is like an unwritten punishment prior to conviction. There appears to be a poor attitude to procedural fairness and [natural] law. So the PSU investigates staff, but fails to be professional in doing so … Staff confidence with the unit is extremely poor. The PSU frequently appears to be siding with senior ASNSW management, and again appears to be one of the tools used by management to bully, harass and discriminate [against] staff."
For many years the staff of the Ambulance Service of NSW have been aware of the issues but help, support and action by the incumbent and successive hierarchies have fallen on deaf ears or resulted in retaliation against individuals. It is very telling that although senior NSW Ambulance management claims it is apparently “aware”, the impetus for the recent call for change had to come from families of deceased paramedics and the public rather than the Ambulance Service itself; who are tasked with the responsibility of the welfare of its staff, both physically and mentally.
Enough is enough! It is not a time to accept a belated apology and then wait and see what improvements can be made internally over the next few years by a process few have faith in and that is closed to external scrutiny and input. History should have taught us that NSW Ambulance lacks the insight and capacity to change its own culture, especially if those who will benefit from a lack of change are in control of the process.
We therefore believe that the only course of action left is for your government to call for a Royal Commission into the Ambulance Service of NSW, to bring out into the open the real state of the behaviour, expose those who are at the root of sustaining the culture and have been guilty of harming staff but more importantly, to find solutions that can be held up to scrutiny and will see future management held to account for effective change. We call upon the Premier of NSW to initiate a Royal Commission into the Ambulance Service of NSW forthwith.
Enough is enough! It is not a time to accept a belated apology and then wait and see what improvements can be made internally over the next few years by a process few have faith in and that is closed to external scrutiny and input. History should have taught us that NSW Ambulance lacks the insight and capacity to change its own culture, especially if those who will benefit from a lack of change are in control of the process.
We therefore believe that the only course of action left is for your government to call for a Royal Commission into the Ambulance Service of NSW, to bring out into the open the real state of the behaviour, expose those who are at the root of sustaining the culture and have been guilty of harming staff but more importantly, to find solutions that can be held up to scrutiny and will see future management held to account for effective change. We call upon the Premier of NSW to initiate a Royal Commission into the Ambulance Service of NSW forthwith.
"The problem … is that this leaves dedicated officers mentally and physically broken. They are often robbed of the job they love, their relationships suffer, and, tragically, some attempt or are successful in committing suicide … One of the statements that we hear over and over again from our affected members is: “How can they do this to me? Our whole job is to provide care for people, so why are they doing this to me?” NSW Ambulance is supposed to care."
"Bullying tends to take has changed to some extent over time. Previously it would often take the form of yelling, name calling and outright intimidatory behaviour; now it may involve more subtle actions such as denial of opportunities, increased surveillance of work, and inappropriate use of performance management."
Sign the petition today to force real change and accountability...
Next Steps...
The process of forcing change is not easy. The first step was to start the change.org petition to reflect the mood of the community as well as the past and present staff of NSW Ambulance. This is an important first step to show the NSW Government and NSW Ambulance that we find the current situation unacceptable. The next step is to collect signatures for a formal petition to the NSW Parliament to consider the initiation of a Royal Commission into NSW Ambulance. In order to have a formal petition considered on the floor or the parliament we need at least 10,000 signatures.
Obviously, distributing and collecting original signatures on forms of 10,000 individuals is a huge task. Unfortunately, the NSW Parliament in the 21st century, still doesn't accept digital signatures. Below is a draft of the formal petition (for information purposes). We will contact all supporters when it is time to start collecting signatures.
The process of forcing change is not easy. The first step was to start the change.org petition to reflect the mood of the community as well as the past and present staff of NSW Ambulance. This is an important first step to show the NSW Government and NSW Ambulance that we find the current situation unacceptable. The next step is to collect signatures for a formal petition to the NSW Parliament to consider the initiation of a Royal Commission into NSW Ambulance. In order to have a formal petition considered on the floor or the parliament we need at least 10,000 signatures.
Obviously, distributing and collecting original signatures on forms of 10,000 individuals is a huge task. Unfortunately, the NSW Parliament in the 21st century, still doesn't accept digital signatures. Below is a draft of the formal petition (for information purposes). We will contact all supporters when it is time to start collecting signatures.
royal_commission_into_the_nsw_ambulance_service.pdf |
Draft Terms of Reference for a Royal Commission into NSW Ambulance.
As there (it seems) been no political will on either side of politics (from major or minor parties for a Royal Commission into NSW Ambulance, We will continue to agitate and do the heavy lifting to make this happen. At saveourparamedics, we have reviewed the issues that have been highlighted that need to be exposed by a transparent public inquiry, that has the authority to punish and refer for prosecution. A Royal commission into NSW Ambulance is indeed in the NSW public interest, who not only face the slowest emergency response times in Australia through gross mismanagement but also are witness to a toxic culture, are guilty of corporate manslaughter, perversion of the course of justice and indictable crimes that have just been covered up.
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One of the first steps by Government in commencing this process is to establish the "Terms of Reference" for the Royal Commission. We have therefore constructed a draft document for consideration and comment. We are anxious that we include enough scope to enable the inquiry to examine all the issues identified so far.
Please read the attached document and provide feedback through our contact page.
.
One of the first steps by Government in commencing this process is to establish the "Terms of Reference" for the Royal Commission. We have therefore constructed a draft document for consideration and comment. We are anxious that we include enough scope to enable the inquiry to examine all the issues identified so far.
Please read the attached document and provide feedback through our contact page.
terms_of_reference_rc_into_answ.pdf |