News

As you may be aware, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) are conducting an Independent Review into Ambulance Victoria (AV) following the release of reports of discrimination, bullying, harassment and/or victimisation within the service.

Last week the Victorian Ambulance Union Incorporated (VAU) met with VEOHRC to discuss the
recent release of the terms of reference for VEOHRC’s Independent Review. Members can view the
terms of reference below.
By way of summary, the terms of reference indicate that the VEOHRC review will examine and make
recommendations on:

• discriminatory conduct experienced by current and former employees (both operational and
  administrative), volunteers and students undertaking paramedic placements at AV;
• causes of discriminatory conduct within AV including circumstances where required
  policy/procedural changes have not been implemented and why (the ‘barriers’ to change
  within AV);
• the adequacy of current measures in place within AV to prevent and eliminate discrimination,
  sexual harassment and victimisation; and
• how AV can effectively utilise best practice strategies to provide a safe work environment and
  comply with the requirements of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic).
  Further information about the review and its proposed timeline have been released via bulletin
  available to view below for your reference.
  To assist the VAU to prepare its submission to the VEOHRC review in line with the terms of
  reference, the VAU has been collating examples of adverse and/or discriminatory conduct
  experienced by our members whilst employed by or volunteering for AV.
  Some of these submissions have referred to experiences by current paramedics when they were
  ‘green students’ undertaking their university placements. Additionally, some current paramedicine
  students have reported their experiences of inappropriate conduct whilst on placement including
  name calling, exclusion or overhearing/being subjected to sexist comments.
  Although the majority of students report extremely positive experiences during their placements and
  are well supported by their paramedic crews, we encourage anyone who has had a negative
  experience to come forward and tell their story. No one should feel unvalued or unsafe at work or
  university.
  We encourage any affected paramedicine students to come forward and detail their experiences of
  negative and/or adverse behaviour. We confirm that all the material received and identities of student
  members disclosed to VAU to date, will remain confidential, deidentified and anonymous, unless
  express consent has been/is provided to VAU to provide your identity/details to VEOHRC.
  If you have not already shared your story and would like to assist the VAU, we request that you email
  us with your experiences and include the following information:

• your experiences of discriminatory conduct, including details of the context and facts
  giving rise to the conduct;
• the location/approximate date that the discriminatory conduct occurred; and
• how the discriminatory conduct has impacted you.
  Please send the above information to Industrial Officer, Alana Lazdins at [email protected] .
  Finally, we reiterate that despite recent media reporting some negative elements within AV’s culture,
  paramedicine is a rewarding and exciting career to pursue. We hope that your assistance in the
  VEOHRC review will assist in making AV the best it can be as you prepare to enter the paramedic
  profession over the coming years.
  We remind you that if you require support throughout this process or because of your experiences, a
  number of support services are available and can be found below.
  If you have any questions, please email VAU at [email protected] .

In Solidarity

To assist the VAU to prepare its submission to the VEOHRC review in line with the terms of reference, the VAU has been collating examples of adverse and/or discriminatory conduct experienced by our members whilst employed by or volunteering for AV.

Some of these submissions have referred to experiences by current paramedics when they were ‘green students’ undertaking their university placements. Additionally, some current paramedicine students have reported their experiences of inappropriate conduct whilst on placement including name calling, exclusion or overhearing/being subjected to sexist comments.

Although the majority of students report extremely positive experiences during their placements and are well supported by their paramedic crews, we encourage anyone who has had a negative experience to come forward and tell their story. No one should feel unvalued or unsafe at work or university.

We encourage any affected paramedicine students to come forward and detail their experiences of negative and/or adverse behaviour. We confirm that all the material received and identities of student members disclosed to VAU to date, will remain confidential, deidentified and anonymous, unless express consent has been/is provided to VAU to provide your identity/details to VEOHRC.

If you have not already shared your story and would like to assist the VAU, we request that you email us with your experiences and include the following information:

• your experiences of discriminatory conduct, including details of the context and facts giving rise to the conduct;
• the location/approximate date that the discriminatory conduct occurred; and
• how the discriminatory conduct has impacted you.

Please send the above information to  [email protected] .

Finally, we reiterate that despite recent media reporting some negative elements within AV’s culture, paramedicine is a rewarding and exciting career to pursue. We hope that your assistance in the VEOHRC review will assist in making AV the best it can be as you prepare to enter the paramedic profession over the coming years.

We remind you that if you require support throughout this process or because of your experiences, a number of support services are available and can be found below.

If you have any questions, please email VAU at [email protected] .