South Australian Ambos will finally receive a salary increase for the first time in over 4 years. The previous Enterprise Agreement expired in 2018 with Ambos last salary increase occurring at the end of 2017. On the 9th August 2022, the new agreement was ratified by the South Australian Employment Tribunal.
South Australian Paramedics, Ambulance Officers, Triple Zero call takers, and Emergency Medical Dispatchers will finally be recognised for their hard work and dedication over these past few years in providing exceptional pre-hospital healthcare to the South Australian community in such challenging times.
With the current plan to recruit 350 Ambos over the coming years, South Australia will return as among the best renumerated ambulance services in Australia being able to both attract and retain Paramedics both nationally and internationally.
The road to achieving this was difficult leading to our frontline Ambos left feeling devalued and demoralised. Negotiations throughout the entire term of the previous Liberal State Government were focused on attacking our Ambos workplace conditions such as meal breaks and general entitlements. The previous Liberal Government refused to provide a single offer in their four years of Government
and instead sought to dismiss the Enterprise Agreement and Ambos working conditions all together, applying for an Award to be arbitrated in the Employment Tribunal.
With the election of a new State Labor Government negotiations recommenced in good faith, the application for an arbitrated Award withdrawn and the attack on members conditions ceased. After just 4 months an offer was put to Ambos of South Australia which was accepted with over 97% acceptance.
✅ 2.5% yearly salary increases backdated to 31 December 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Resulting in a 10% increase to current Ambos base salary.
✅ 2.5% future yearly salary increases to take effect on 31 Dec 2022, 2023 and 2024.
✅ Rolled in Rate now paid on all types of approved leave Annual, Sick, ADO, Long Service, Maternity, Surrogacy and Adoption Leave.
✅ Urgent review in Regional Incentive Payments.
✅ Changes to Crib Break Clause to allow for 10.5 hour shifts in addition to current 8, 10, 12 and 14 hour shifts.
✅ Reviews into Team Leader\Operations Manager Reports, Position Titles\Work Level Definitions and SAAS’s Service Delivery Model.
✅ Afternoon shift redefined to shifts ≥ 1100, finishing ≥ 1900 but before ≤ 2400.
✅ Emergency Operations Centre members reinstated to claim ISTO allowances when training.
✅ Current 5% ‘Crib Anywhere’ allowance now codified which compensates members for flexible crib break arrangements. This also sets the standard of crib breaks to be taken at home stations for crews not in receipt of this allowance. This includes Emergency Crews ensuring they are returned to their local communities and for both physical and mental respite.
✅Current 10% Patient Transfer Service Allowance, 15% Metro Emergency Spare Allowance and 100% Excess On-Call allowances now codified into the EA.