‘It’s concerning’: Government slammed over Ambulance Victoria culture

The Andrews government has been blasted over a toxic culture within Ambulance Victoria ahead of a major report’s release.

A final report into workplace culture at Ambulance Victoria will be released this week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

The Victorian opposition has blasted the government over “systemic issues” within Ambulance Victoria, a day before a human rights report into the service is released.

Part two of the organisation’s workplace culture report – from the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission – is investigating details of bullying, discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation within the service.

But ahead of its release, two senior Ambulance Victoria employees have reportedly resigned amid pressure from the unions.

Liberal frontbencher Georgie Crozier said it was worrying the government seemingly had not addressed systemic issues within Ambulance Victoria.

“It’s concerning, it’s really concerning,” she said.

“These issues are not because of Covid, they’re years in the making and again it’s happened under the Andrews government’s watch.”

Georgie Crozier said she was concerned the government had not addressed the workplace culture within Ambulance Victoria. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

There are concerns a “harmful” workplace culture has not been properly addressed, and led to the maintenance of a “boys’ club” within the organisation.

Volume one of the report into the organisation’s culture detailed widespread reports of bullying, sexual harassment and victimisation, interviewing 255 staff members and examining more than 1000 documents on top of surveys and written submissions.

The harrowing report found that 47.2 per cent of those surveyed had experienced discrimination, 17.4 per cent reported sexual harassment, 52.4 per cent experienced bullying and 52.5 per cent had been victimised.

The watchdog made 24 recommendations focused on improving safety and developing new organisational values.

The second part of the report, to be released on Thursday, is expected to be just as damning as the first volume, and will detail findings and recommendations about equality, fairness and inclusion within Ambulance Victoria.

The Victorian Ambulance Union’s Danny Hill said changing culture would need an organisation-wide approach.

“Bullies in senior positions have walked between raindrops for decades without being held to account,” he told The Age.

“We have started to see a shift since the first report, with some members feeling more confident speaking up about managers who have overseen a dangerous environment but not acted.”