INVERELL paramedics made a strong visual statement on Wednesday to highlight their fight to recover death and disability entitlements equal to that of their emergency services counterparts in NSW Police, and NSW Fire and Rescue.
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The women and men of the service inserted paper reading ‘Unprotected’ in a clear sleeve on the back of their trademark fluoro vests. Health Services Union (HSU) delegate and 17-year Inverell paramedic Clint McSpedden said they were merely seeking an equitable protection scheme.
“We’re not asking for anything more, not asking for anything less,” he said.
“We’re just asking to be protected, with a scheme equivalent to what the police receive, considering we’re twice as likely to be injured.”
The gesture took place on national Ambulance Appreciation Day to raise awareness of the nearly 80 per cent slash in insurance entitlements to NSW Ambulance paramedics.
The reduction followed a recent ruling by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission after months of negotiation with the HSU and NSW Ambulance.
The HSU estimated entitlements may be reduced up to $500,000 per claim.
“What they’ve offered us if we get hurt on the job, they may cover us for up to two years, and then we’re on our own,” Mr McSpedden said.
“Not only our lives are at risk, but if we get injured, we’re going to be thrown on the dump,” he said.
“After spending 17 years looking after people, it is a bit of a slap in the face for paramedics.”
Mr McSpedden said statistics state one in five paramedics will be injured at work annually in an unstable and unpredictable environment.
“Who else would walk into a collapsing building, who does that? But that's expected of us,” Mr McSpedden said.
“Every single day, ambulance paramedics are either driving in adverse conditions at early hours of the morning, urgent duty driving, which puts a risk on ambulance officers.
“It’s not only NSW Ambulance paramedics at risk, but it puts their families at risk.”
The NSW HSU Ambulance division asked members of the public to contact their MPs to support the restoration of their coverage.
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said the issue lay not with the NSW government but specifically with the Industrial Relations Commission.
He said his door was open to the NSW Ambulance paramedics to consider their concerns.
“If there's an issue, come and talk to me,” he said
“I’m always willing to help out if I can.”
For more information find NSW Ambulance on Facebook: Zero One - Code One.