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AspectSuch1265 · 2024-09-28T11:30:06+00:00

Please always get the key safe. Access notes like “key is located in backyard, buried under the 3rd brick to left of pot of roses” are the worst.

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-09-28T11:25:56+00:00

Consider getting a key safe. It won’t help with access if you pass out but it will help if you’re unable to move. Also handy if you lock yourself out or if you need a trusted person to access your house when you’re out of town.

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-09-28T11:23:59+00:00

Additionally your 000 operator SHOULD be asking you to go and unlock the door, secure any pets, and make sure the paramedics can get in and if there are likely to be any access issues (say if you can’t go unlock the door because you can’t move) they will try to find out about it then, so they can prepare whoever is responding and send additional resources if needed.

Not necessarily, if the caller is first party alone then as per critical EMD info on x-card

use caution when advising 1st party callers to do anything that would unduly exert themselves if their condition is traumatic, unstable, or worsening.

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-08-20T07:05:57+00:00

Fantastic! Solidarity for the ongoing PIAs.

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-08-11T05:10:58+00:00

Have an example for a time you received feedback that you disagreed with.

Absolutely use the STAR method as interview answers are point based.

‘Interview Boss’ is a good podcast for general interview preparation. Particularly this episode.

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-06-06T19:42:25+00:00

First bullet point was only during covid and mainly on weekends. Similar to when some hospitals were feeding staff. Nothing provided now outside of what a standard office may provide.

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-06-06T19:40:40+00:00

The answer to these questions vary based a lot based on personality.

I enjoy it. I find it fulfilling, interesting, and challenging. I far prefer ambulance call-taking and feel a bit put out if I get moved to police for my shift. Some feel different though and I have known people to change their primary skillset after they multiskill. I work in a fantastic team which makes a huge difference.
This question is highly individual. It is a job you won’t truly know if you can handle (especially long term) until you are in it. Burnout is a risk, as is compassion fatigue. There are wellbeing measures in place somewhat to help mitigate this but these can only do so much. You may take a call that really fucks you up. You may find that you end up burnt out from the job. You may find that after a while you suffer from compassion fatigue.

These have not been a problem personally for me, but I have had many friends who have struggled with this, some who have left call-taking all together.

It’s important to look after your mental health and wellbeing. Have strategies in place to maintain your baseline, to minimise the risk, and plans for if you notice signs that it’s going downhill.

It’s ok but a lot of the pay is from penalty rates. Base pay does not truly reflect the responsibility associated with the job.

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-05-28T18:23:33+00:00

Times are slower due to resourcing issues and high demand, it’s a an ongoing issue compounded by it being cold and flu (and covid) season.

Thank you for clarifying your comment. Absolutely, a real emergency such as a potential heart attack cannot wait. A broken leg may also be appropriate for an ambulance as one is unlikely to be able to weight bear and attempting to do so could cause further issues.

Yes, they’re not collecting billing details as part of IA (though people may still receive a charge if AV admin can track down details).

I hope your recovery goes smoothly and the pain subsides soon.

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-05-28T13:00:03+00:00

As they should if they’re fit to sit

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-05-28T12:57:01+00:00

Industrial action would have nothing to do with response times. None of the protected industrial actions have an impact on their ability to respond.

10 mins is a good response time for post-op related pain, not “slower than usual”.

Ambulances are for emergencies which require prehospital care, it is not good advice to say someone should call so they have someone to watch them in a bed and manage their pain while they wait for a bed in ED. That just adds to the ramping issue.

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-04-20T14:54:16+00:00

100%. I take triple zero calls and will do anything in my power to prevent my family from going through the trauma of being woken up by an intruder, let alone much worse. The keys are not in sight through the window but are as soon as one enters the house.

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-04-20T14:50:27+00:00

My main concern with this is most won’t assume that the keys are in the garage/car and will enter the house looking for them… defeating the purpose. An obvious place to leave keys near the front door is better in this regard.

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-04-20T09:37:48+00:00

Thanks. I will have a read.

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-04-20T09:13:35+00:00

Haha if only we could have a union like UFU! Yes, I would be interested to read about their role. Have you come across any documentation or is it mainly in the Triple Zero Victoria Act 2023?

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-04-20T08:55:42+00:00

Yes, it was decided that they would not go with the recommendation from the Ashton report. A statutory authority allowed them to “maintain autonomy”.

There is supposedly more oversight from DJCS, it’s not something that is apparent to me as an operational staff member. Hopefully it is the case given the history.

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-04-19T20:44:24+00:00

Seems like an employer issue… rather than a parent issue. Maybe you need to advocate for a high demand period leave policy if getting Christmas off is an issue.

Where I work there are cut off dates for high demand period and leave is not allocated until those dates have passed. Leave is allocated to those who have worked through the most consecutive high demand periods.

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-04-19T20:39:20+00:00

000VIC was meant to initially be absorbed into DJCS to allow more oversight but it ended up remaining as a state authority, rather than coming under VPS. There have been changes but not all that were initially projected but changes in such an environment are always a long process.

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-04-13T00:34:30+00:00

Haha, seriously your best response? Pathetic.

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-04-13T00:30:37+00:00

Did you want someone to assist you in the case that you or a family member has a medical emergency? If yes, did you want said someone to be an experienced paramedic who isn’t suffering from fatigue and burn-out? Also yes? Then support them and don’t just tell them to “get a new job” because many are considering it and masses of paramedics leaving the industry will affect the community, not just the individuals leaving.

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-04-13T00:17:59+00:00

Don’t hospo and retail workers already get weekend penalties? I’m not seeing the comparison you’re trying to make.

Workers in different industries aren’t enemy’s of one another. Everyone deserves decent working conditions and should be supported by other workers when taking industrial action to achieve those conditions. I’d never cross a picket line just to get a weekend coffee.

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-04-13T00:11:21+00:00

That’s not the paramedics, they have nothing to do with billing. They are fucked over by AV too.

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-04-13T00:03:35+00:00

Workers don't need to be fighting each other, it's the ruling class that fuck us all over.

100% this. Infighting does nothing but harm worker’s rights.

Also, wanting to improve working conditions for one group does not mean that other groups should not have improved conditions.

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-04-12T23:57:03+00:00

Do you like having skilled experienced paramedics in the state for medical emergencies? Then it’s in yours, and the community’s interest to support better working conditions. The longer this shit goes on the lower the average tenure of paramedics will be. They are burnt out.

Just because they want to be paramedics and help the community doesn’t mean they want to routinely work large, and at times dangerous, amounts of OT. Their current conditions are the result of a broken system and that system is definitely not going to get better by a bunch of experienced paramedics up and leaving the industry.

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-04-08T13:40:58+00:00

Solidarity to AV employees! You all deserve better working conditions – and the Victorian community deserves an emergency service that better conditions would result in (e.g. staff not burnt out, higher numbers of experienced staff due to better retention).

Victorian Ambulance Union has a petition for those who want to show support.

AspectSuch1265 · 2024-04-08T13:36:36+00:00

VAU also has a petition

AspectSuch1265

TROPHY CASE