News
04
August, 2022
Monash University Fees – MICA Course
04 August, 2022
The Victorian Ambulance Union Incorporated has received a lot of complaints and concerns regarding payment of fees for the Monash University MICA course. Our advice is not to pay any of your own money to Monash University. You should not have to pay for AV’s incompetence.
03
August, 2022
PORTABLE LONG SERVICE LEAVE FOR PATIENT TRANSPORT – IT’S TIME!
03 August, 2022
The VAU has recently written to the Victorian Government seeking significant improvements to the working conditions of our Patient Transport Ambulance members.
28
July, 2022
St. John Ambulance Enterprise Agreement Bargaining Update – July/August
28 July, 2022
The VAU are strongly advocating to improve conditions for St John employees. We do not see St John’s position on wages as a sustainable position in bargaining as members have made it clear that increasing their wages is the number one priority.
25
July, 2022
Expressions of Interest – VAU State Council
25 July, 2022
The VAU is seeking Expressions of Interest from VAU members from the Ambulance Victoria (AV) Region of the Ambulance Industry to be appointed as a Committee member (State Councillor) of the VAU.
18
July, 2022
Medical Emergency Response Time (MERT) Taskforce – OUTCOMES DELIVERED
18 July, 2022
Following visits to Triage Services and hearing the experiences of Triage Practitioners, the VAU have advocated to the Victorian Government for the expansion of alternative referral pathways and the introduction of specialist initiatives to allow aged care patients to receive treatment at home or in their aged care facility.
17
July, 2022
Victorian Government Hospital Funding Package
17 July, 2022
Many of the funded initiatives are items that the VAU, alongside other health unions, have advocated for, to reduce the bottlenecks at key points in the health system that ultimately lead to delays in ambulance care.
08
July, 2022
International Paramedics Day 2022
08 July, 2022
Friday July 8 marked the first International Paramedics Day - celebrating the important work undertaken by paramedics, private patient transport ambos, emergency call takers and dispatchers around the world.
07
July, 2022
Surge Workforce Transition Arrangement
07 July, 2022
Several weeks ago the VAU advised Ambulance Victoria that we would lodge a dispute in the courts if the pre-rostering of surge responders before paramedics does not end. The VAU can now announce that it has been successful in securing a package of arrangements to wind back surge responders and to transition back to paramedic crewing on all paramedic shifts.
01
July, 2022
Second Survey on Workplace Climate and Well-being of Victorian Ambulance Workers 2021 – Volume 1
01 July, 2022
The latest volume deals with workload, psychological safety, burnout, resilience, job satisfaction, intention to leave the profession and mental health and wellbeing (Volume 2 will be released at a later date). The the results presented clearly reflect what our members tell us daily.
30
June, 2022
St John Bargaining Update: WAGES ON THE TABLE AT NEXT MEETING
30 June, 2022
As St John employees are aware, the Victorian Ambulance Union Incorporated has been bargaining with St John management, to establish the first Enterprise Agreement at St John for NEPT staff. The VAU calls on non-members to join up in order to have their say in bargaining and ensure a better deal for patient transport workers at St John.
30
June, 2022
VAU Secures Commitment from Royal Flying Doctor Service to Pay Shift Allowance
30 June, 2022
The VAU raised this matter on behalf of members with RFDS management. We confirm we have been successful in securing written confirmation that the outstanding reconciliation payments will be paid.
17
June, 2022
Surge Workforce
17 June, 2022
The Victorian Ambulance Union has issued an ultimatum to Ambulance Victoria that we will have no choice but to lodge a dispute in the courts if the pre-rostering of surge workers before paramedics does not end.
09
June, 2022
Healthcare Worker Winter Retention Payment
09 June, 2022
The Victorian Ambulance Union (VAU) welcomes the Victorian Government Winter Retention Payment, but ensuring retention of our health workforce will be a long term challenge we need to deal with.
16
May, 2022
St. John Ambulance Enterprise Bargaining Update
16 May, 2022
The VAU and St John Ambulance Victoria have been meeting regularly for enterprise bargaining discussions. Given that bargaining has been progressing steadily we are confident that we will proceed to constructive wage discussions.
03
May, 2022
Victorian State Budget 2022
03 May, 2022
The VAU was present when the Victorian State Budget for the 2022/23 financial year was handed down by the Victorian Government. An additional $12 billion has been allocated to the Victorian health system.
27
April, 2022
WorkSafe finds Ambulance Victoria in Breach of Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
27 April, 2022
VAU members were interviewed by WorkSafe inspectors over several hours and provided information on the Clinician workload and systems of work. Employees were interviewed and AV were found to be...
01
April, 2022
VAU HSR PIN Upheld by WorkSafe for safety concerns Surrounding Augment VA – Trial
01 April, 2022
A huge congratulations to our HSR (Jason Learmonth) and Deputy HSR (Daryl Glover) at Mansfield for their tireless work in the health and safety space for our members.
31
March, 2022
VEOHRC Independent Review into Ambulance Victoria – FINAL REPORT
31 March, 2022
Today the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission has released the second volume of its review into Ambulance Victoria. The Victorian Ambulance Union Incorporated welcomes the release of Volume 2. The Report by VEOHRC has clearly captured the extreme levels of harm and distress caused by incivility, disrespect, discrimination, sexual harassment, bullying and victimisation at AV.
28
March, 2022
Hair Follicle Testing
28 March, 2022
The VAU are aware that ‘for cause’ drug testing, including hair follicle testing, is planned to occur in some AV locations over coming weeks.
25
March, 2022
Medium Acuity Transport Service
25 March, 2022
The VAU has informed the Victorian Government that we are planning to withdraw our support for the Medium Acuity Transport Service (MATS). The VAU had previously welcomed this Government initiative in good faith as we believed that MATS would be: