EBA Survey June 2008 – Fact Sheet 2
Wednesday, 2 July, 2008
Paramedic EBA Survey June 2008 – Fact Sheet 2
About the survey
- Conducted between 12-22 June 2008, online by Ambulance Employees Australia
- 356 paramedics participated, or nearly 20% of all Victorian paramedics
Morale crisis
How would you rate morale among Victorian paramedics currently?
- 54.1% say morale is poor, very poor or terrible
- Less than 15% say it is good, very good or excellent
- 30.5% say it is average
Top 5 reasons for the morale crisis
- My pay is too low (59.8%)
- I don’t feel valued by my employer (58.8%)
- We're not treated with respect by our employer (57%)
- Work-related fatigue is affecting my personal life (54.9%)
- Work-related fatigue is affecting my health (50.9%)
Paramedics ready to walk away
Are you considering leaving you job because of your employment conditions?
- 35.8% say yes
- 64.2% say no
Attractive/unattractive career choice
Do you think being a paramedic is an attractive career choice right now?
- 50.5% say Yes
- 49.5% say No
Why paramedics are ready to walk away
- 81.7% say ‘I don’t feel valued by my employer’
- 75.8% say ‘Work-related fatigue is affecting my health’
- 69.7% say ‘Paramedics are not treated with respect by our employer’
- 69.2% say ‘Work-related fatigue is affecting my personal life’
- 61.7% say ‘My pay is too low’
What would make them stay
- 81% say ‘A fair wage outcome’
- 66.1% say ‘10 hour rest breaks between shifts’
- 64.5% say ‘More family friendly rosters’
- 63.6% ‘More paramedics to reduce workloads’
State Government recruitment efforts at risk
- On April 22 this year the State Government announced plans to recruit 258 extra paramedics.
- Rural Ambulance Victoria announced a recruitment drive of 100 paramedics at the start of 2008. But we are informed they have had to revise their target down to 59 because they cannot find extra paramedics.
- If 36% of Victoria’s 2016 paramedics, left the State Government would need to recruit another 725 extra paramedics.
How the most trusted profession compares to some the least trusted
- Paramedic: 1st year $47,788, 6th year $49,608 (No.1 most trusted)
- Commercial lawyer mergers and acquisitions: $95,448.91 (No. 32 of 40)
- Real estate agent: $97,115.38 (No 36 of 40)
- Commercial car salesman: $75,340.91 ( No. 38 of 40)
Sources: www.mycareer.com.au & Readers Digest (June 2008) “Trust 2008 Australia: Who Do You Trust?”
Why these paramedics are ready to walk – comments
I’ve lost of confidence in management providing a safe and healthy work environment for myself and patients.
I need to work overtime to make a decent wage and that exacerbates the fatigue problem.
The good will of paramedics keeps both services afloat and will lead to the death of an officer due to fatigue.
I’m sick of being tired all the time. I have had depression/anxiety issues which I believe are fatigue related. I’m sick of having to work overtime (extra shifts) to supplement my ordinary pay. I’m sick of providing emergency coverage overnight for $3 an hour.
On call has all but ceased any exercise for 8 days, because due to night call outs I’m too tired to exercise. This has resulted in weight gain, reduced fitness and increased general fatigue.
What would make these paramedics stay – comments
We need appropriate meal / rest breaks.
Money is important but my health and family are more important.
Being treated with even the slightest respect or concern by my employer.
We need a better deal for MICA paramedics: pay, grid, roster flexibility, more consultation and respect for MICA paramedics.
We should be rewarded appropriately for working 102 hours of on call per fortnight.
Wages: A better base rate and on call rate. Who else works for $3.50 an hour and puts theirs and their family's life on hold for 8 days at a time...it’s absurd.
A lot of people have often said to me: "I wouldn't do your job for all the tea in China". I'll do it. But pay me what it's worth: to ease someone's pain; make someone feel safe; extend the prognosis of someone's illness; hey, maybe even save someone's life!
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| AEA EBA Survey - Fact Sheet 2 | 193.94 KB |
Metro
