St John’s shake up: Territory Ambos call for executive team axing

In the latest hurdle for St John NT’s leadership, a resounding vote of ‘no confidence’ has led the union to demand the executive is replaced. Read the details.

Eighty-nine per cent of members said they had ‘no confidence’ in St John NT’s executive. Picture: Che Chorley

The embattled executive of St John Ambulance NT have suffered another blow, with union members overwhelmingly casting a vote of no confidence in its leadership.

This year has been a difficult one for the non-government ambulance operator, subject to multiple critical reviews, pay disputes and “serious concerns” raised around the organisation’s clinical governance.

The latest hurdle is a formal vote of no confidence by ambulance union members in St John NT’s executive team, which includes the chief executive Andrew Tombs, director of ambulance Andrew Thomas, regional manager, the Territory response manager, and clinical services manager.

United Worker Union secretary Erina Early said in a letter to Health Minister Steve Edgington that 162 St John NT staff had taken part in the survey.

This resulted in 89 per cent saying they held no confidence in St John’s executive leadership team.

Unions NT secretary Erina Early. Picture: Floss Adams

A scathing review into clinical governance by Dr Craig Ellis was leaked in December, with St John NT claiming to have implemented most of the recommendations Dr Ellis had made.

This led union delegates to request Ms Early to conduct a survey of the members to determine their response to the review and whether they believed Dr Ellis’ recommendations were being implemented.

That survey revealed “continued concerns” from staff around a number of issues, allegations the recommendations had not been “meaningful(ly)” implemented and an overwhelming lack of confidence in St John NT’s executive.

St John Ambulance vehicle.

Ms Early’s letter, sent on December 23, outlined five demands.

“Union members have lost all confidence in the St John NT Ambulance Executive,” Ms Early said.

“We request the St John Ambulance Board and Minister for Health take urgent action to either take control of Emergency Ambulance or appoint new management.”

St John NT chief executive Andrew Tombs was one of the executive team identified in the letter. Picture: Supplied

The letter also demanded all of Dr Ellis’ report recommendation be implemented.

It also requested NT Health select an official to monitor the organisation, that the NT Government conduct an “urgent” structural review of the ambulance service, and that a chief medical officer be appointed.

“We need a government who will listen to the paramedics on the ground,” Ms Early said.

“Paramedics have spoken out about this for two decades – it’s time to finally listen to them.”

The letter also alleged the executive had promoted a “toxic and unsafe workplace which encourages workplace bullying, favouritism, fatigue and profit before lives”.

Ms Early said her members had taken the dramatic steps as they believed successive reviews into St John NT had “fallen on deaf ears”.

“This needs to change,” Ms Early said.

“The NT Government needs to listen to their frontline Paramedics, Patient Transport Officers, and Emergency Communications Staff and take action.”

Mr Tombs said the “first priority” of St John NT was “the safety and wellbeing of our staff”.

“We continue to work with NT Health to deliver a contract beyond January 2026,” Mr Tombs said.

Mr Edgington said he had met with the union last week and would “continue to meet with the union and will formally respond to the letter in due course”.

“I will continue to work closely with NT Health and St John NT to implement recommendations following a review, focused on improving clinical governance, care provision and service delivery,” he said.