Ambos are essential workers – so let’s start treating them like it

Paramedics should be some of our most well looked after workers, so to hear a majority have been forced to fund their own training and feel the financial success of an essential service is being put ahead of staff welfare is a massive concern.

In a new survey, a majority of paramedics with St John Ambulance NT say they have been forced to fund their own training to further their development and feel the financial success of an essential service is being put ahead of the staff welfare. Picture: Che Chorley

• ‘The outcomes of this survey should send a chill down every Territorian’: Union releases survey results on NT ambo concerns

PARAMEDICS should be some of our most beloved and well looked after workers, saving lives every day on the frontline.

They hit the road to face horrific scenes, often to be greeted by hostile behaviour, all for trying to save people’s lives.

To hear so many – more than three quarters – have been forced to fund their own training to further their development and feel the financial success of an essential service is put ahead of the staff welfare is a massive concern.

They’ve also alleged bullying is rife within the workplace and many feel there are no solutions beyond the horizon.

The findings and figures suggest the only way forward may be a complete overhaul – to go back to square one and rebuild St John to ensure its workers feel safe, appreciated and valued.

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St John says it is focused on the care and wellbeing of its staff and the community. But it’s clear the ambos don’t feel heard. Perhaps it’s time the service listens to its workers who have made their positions and concerns loud and clear.

These aren’t workers at a store who can be replaced on a whim – they require people who have done years of training, learning to save lives.

Our ambulance workers, our frontline workers, should be given the most necessary and appropriate conditions possible to ensure they can undertake their jobs, to save our lives, as well as possible.