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Tasmanian Industrial Commission

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T5086

 

TASMANIAN INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION

Industrial Relations Act 1984
s.29 application for hearing of industrial dispute

Health Services Union of Australia
Tasmania No. 1 Branch

(T.5086 of 1994)

and

The Minister Administering the Tasmanian State Service Act 1984

 

COMMISSIONER R K GOZZI

HOBART 23 August 1994

Industrial dispute - provision of patient extrication

REASONS FOR DECISION

In this matter the Health Services Union of Australia Tasmania No 1 Branch (HSUA) sought the assistance of the Commission in respect of an industrial dispute concerning the provision of patient extrication training to certain nominated Ambulance Officers by the Tasmanian Ambulance Service.

Following proceedings in Launceston on 5 and 6 July 1994 the Commission issued a Statement dated 14 July 1994. The Statement summarised the dispute up to that point in time and also identified the various elements to the dispute.

The matter was again before the Commission on 19 August 1994 when substantial progress was able to be made in conference discussion between the Commission, representatives of the HSUA and representatives of the Minister administering the Tasmanian State Service Act 1984 (the Minister). Subsequently the parameters within which this dispute may be able to be resolved were recorded in transcript. These parameters may be summarised in the following terms:

1.  An application will be lodged with the Commission to facilitate the variation of the award by consent to delete the compulsory requirement for ambulance officers post September 1984 to acquire patient extrication skills.

2.  A Memorandum of Understanding will be entered into between the HSUA and the Minister to provide for a minimum of seventy Ambulance Officers to continue to hold and maintain patient extrication skills.

3.  Ambulance Officers who currently hold patient extrication skills will be able to voluntarily relinquish those skills.

4.  In respect to (3.) above, those Ambulance Officers who voluntarily relinquish their patient extrication skills will receive salary maintenance at the salary level of Ambulance Officer (Advanced Life Support and Patient Extrication). In essence current salary levels will be maintained for twelve months.

5.  Ambulance Officers who are qualified in patient extrication and who wish to retain this skill will be permitted to do so.

6.  Ambulance Officers subject to this dispute will receive patient extrication training. It is important however, as a first step, to ascertain precisely who wishes to receive this training. It is the Commission's understanding that out of the twenty seven Ambulance Officers subject to this dispute notification in the first instance, ten Ambulance Officers have indicated that they no longer wish to acquire skills in patient extrication. There may be others in a similar position. Of those Ambulance Officers who wish to be trained in patient extrication, priority should be given to those Ambulance Officers who previously held Duty Officer classifications.

7.  It was agreed that the Minister would provide the HSUA with a Position Statement on the introduction of Technicians as earlier determined1 by the Commission. The Position Statement would also explain training requirements for Technicians.

8.  Given the changes proposed in the Communications Centre, Technician opportunities will be provided to those who wish to undertake this work. Assistance with redeployment was also offered by the Minister's representatives.

9.  Student Ambulance Officers will continue to receive patient extrication training to enable them to graduate as Ambulance Officers.

10.  With regard to (9.) above a revision of the Certificate of Applied Science Course is proposed. This may mean that patient extrication may no longer be required to qualify as an Ambulance Officer. The options being considered include a move toward competency based training and or an Associate Diploma qualification available through the University of New South Wales.

11.  It was agreed that position descriptions will be amended to remove the compulsory requirement for patient extrication skills.

12.  In making application to vary the award by consent as outlined in (1.) above, the parties will also take the opportunity to seek to remove from the award other redundant classifications and to correctly reflect in the award applicable classification titles.

The foregoing reflects the broad areas of agreement between the parties following discussions with the Commission on 19 August 1994. The Commission considers that these expressions of principle and intent provide ample scope for the parties to resolve the matters in dispute and to facilitate the filing of an application for the award to be varied by consent in the manner outlined above.

This matter has been listed for resumption of hearing on 22 September 1994 when I anticipate that it will be able to be concluded.

 

R K Gozzi
COMMISSIONER

Appearances:
Mr P Nielsen for the Health Services Union of Australia Tasmania No 1 Branch.
Ms K Pammenter with Mr G Taylor for the Minister administering the Tasmanian State Service Act 1984

Date and Place of Hearing:
1994
Hobart
August 19

1 T3779 of 1992 and T2586 of 1990 dated 11 November 1992