Recent exodus attributed to ambos leaving for interstate COVID career opportunities

DATA from the Productivity Commission showed the Territory has the highest ambulance workforce attrition rate in the country

NT paramedics are flying out the door according to data from the Productivity Commission, which showed the Territory has the highest ambulance workforce attrition rate in the country.

The Australian Government Productivity Commission’s 2021 report on Government Services showed the NT’s attrition rate was 20.2 per cent between 2019 and 2020.

The next highest attrition rate was 4.3 in the Australian Capital Territory, followed by 4.2 per cent in Western Australia.

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St John NT chief executive Judith Barker said the 2019 to 2020 period was “particularly unusual” with many paramedics leaving due to critical service opportunities interstate brought about by COVID-19.

Ms Barker said the organisation aimed to reduce the attrition rate by growing its homegrown workforce through the new Bachelor of Paramedicine offered at Charles Darwin University and Flinders University.

“These degrees provide an opportunity for Territorians to study in the NT and to specialise in the conditions that our paramedics experience every day, building local knowledge, connections and opportunities for career development,” she said.

“Short term, St John NT is working to address attrition rates through a number of programs aimed at increasing staff engagement, professional development and succession planning.”

United Workers Union NT spokeswoman Erina Early said she doubted the new degrees would improve the attrition rate.

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Ms Early, who for years has advocated for the NT government to take over ambulance services, maintained this was the best course for improvement.

“It’s great to have degrees based in the Northern Territory but it’s not going to make a difference to maintaining qualified paramedics,” she said.

“The only way it’s going to change is if the ambulance services goes to government where they can get training, treated as professionals, fatigue is addressed, and they’re valued and respected.”

“St John is a first aid and training, and volunteer provider. It is not an ambulance service provider.”