Following months of negotiations NSW paramedics will now vote for one of three options that will overhaul their current death and disability scheme.
The state government has committed to providing $48 million to improve the paramedic insurance schemes for for NSW Ambos, including five years’ income protection for on duty claims, and a specialised health programs.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said of the $48 million, $30 million would go towards health and wellbeing programs which will include a dedicated psychologist, physiotherapist, occupational physician and a Paramedic Safety Champion who will act to ensure paramedics are safe and well.
Richmond Intensive Care Paramedic and delegate for the Australian Paramedic Association NSW Liu Bianchi said while they welcome the state government funding, she believes further negotiations are needed to ensure the best outcome for members.
“The NSW government has provided paramedics with three options that will need to be voted on. Two of those include employee contributions,” Ms Bianchi said.
“It is the APANSW’s belief that no paramedic should be worse off as a result of the compulsory Death and Disability Scheme.”
Ms Bianchi, who is currently nursing a back injury she sustained at work, said ensuring the right death and disability scheme was reached was vital to protecting staff.
“As a paramedic the environments we work in are really unpredictable. A triple zero call will come and and what we actually arrive at is often not what was originally indicated to us.
“We arrive to places that are very dark, obscured and situations that put us in great danger of being injured.
“It’s really important that staff are provided with the appropriate care if they are injured, killed or permanently affected while working.
“After all ambulance paramedics are out there caring for everyone else in the community, it’s only right that they are cared for also.”
The three options currently put forward to members of the APANSW include:
Option one:
- Income protection for up to five years for on duty claims
- Income protection for up to two years for off duty claims
- Death benefits as per the current scheme
- Benefits will be backdated for eligible claims to August 20, 2016
Option two:
- Income protection for up to seven years for on duty claims
- Income protection for up to two years for off duty claims
- Death benefits as per the current scheme
- A 1.5 per cent employee contribution
- Employee contributions backdated to August 20, 2016
Option three:
- Income protection for up to five years for on duty claims
- Income protection for up to two years for off duty claims
- Total and permanent disability disability lump sum benefit with maximum salary multiplier for 3.25
- Death and benefits as per the current scheme
- 1.8 per cent employee contributions and $1 million in employee related cost savings, or 2.1 per cent employee contribution
- Benefits for eligible claims and employee contributions/savings backdates to August 20, 2016
“We are pleased that negotiations have come to this point, but we feel that more can be done to get the right deal for our members,” Mr Bianchi said.
“The Fire Brigade and Police don’t have to contribute a portion of their wage for death and disability, why should paramedics?”
Member for Hawkesbury Dominic Perrottet said paramedics provide an invaluable service to the community.
“Paramedics work tirelessly to help keep us safe and healthy,” Mr Perrottet said.
“It is important that we do everything we can to help them stay safe and healthy too.
“They work in difficult and dangerous circumstances and need appropriate support if they are injured at work.”
