Call the HACSU Helpline
1300 88 00 32

more info

Winter 2002

Win on ambulance services for south east

HACSU members have won an important victory for the union and the community, gaining a commitment for the provision of an ambulance service, staffed by full time paramedics, at Sorell in Tasmania’s south east.

This follows a sustained campaign by HACSU members, winning the commitment despite an initial decision not to fund this initiative within the State budget.

HACSU Assistant State Secretary, Tim Jacobson, said members should be proud of the way they campaigned to force this commitment.

"Members were extremely angry and disappointed the funding wasn't delivered in the State budget, and campaigned strongly during the State election to force the commitment Tim said.

"The Sorell ambulance station is an extremely important matter for members not simply because of its location but because of the way future Governments will provide ambulance services to the community."

"Other similar communities across Tasmania have paramedic stations and we couldn't understand why Sorell and the south east should be treated differently."

"We were very concerned about the precedent that would have been set with a volunteer station at this location."
In the lead up to and during the election, southern ambulance members established a campaign committee to educate the community and raise the profile of this issue.

The committee undertook a number of initiatives, including:

• a meeting with the volunteers recruited for Sorell, where a formal agreement was reached that they would not provide services until action had been taken by the Government to employ paramedics at Sorell,

• a meeting with the Sorell Mayor and Councilors to highlight the futility in establishing a volunteer-only station 20 minutes from Hobart. (The report provided by HACSU to council was well received.)

• a well-attended public forum.

• a number of members of the local community involved themselves in the campaign by facilitating the public meeting and distributing information.

Members also resolved at a recent membership meeting should the ambulance service move to operate a volunteer-only Station at Sorell, they would see that as a provocative action and would consider more industrial action.

"The pressure was really turned up during the election campaign," Tim Jacobson said.

"The Labor Party in their health policy launch said, if elected, they would fund a paramedic station at Sorell."

Tim Jacobson said the only downside of this decision is that the Labor Party has only given a commitment to employ two paramedics at the station, which will mean the station will only be covered by a paramedic for 12 hours a day, with the remaining 12 hours to be covered by on call only.

"HACSU believes the caseload for Sorell requires the employment of four paramedics who will provide around-the-clock staffing," Tim said.

"This issue has been pursued by the HACSU/AESB Executive following the election."

"Both the Greens and the Liberal Party gave commitments to establish a 24 hour (four paramedic) station at Sorell. So it has been widely acknowledged this is what is required."

"However, all of the HACSU Ambulance Employees Sub Branch who participated and had input into this campaign over the past year are congratulated for this tremendous victory."

"Members took a stand for what was right. The industrial action, media, community campaigning undertaken by members without question prompted the Government to revaluate its decision on this important matter."

"This action has served to benefit the union and demonstrate our role in agitating for appropriate services for the Tasmanian community."