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NSW Ambulance service

NSW Ambulance service

Old Sep 14th 2008, 11:58 pm
  #151  
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Default Re: NSW Ambulance service

havnt replied for a few days as my puter broke.

light rigid test. you do a straight swop for a class c licence within 3 months. (c for car) if you have a bike licence they will transfer a class r as well (r for rider) that will cost depending on how long you want your licence for. i had 5 years and it cost $145. then you do a driver knowledge multi choice computer test for light rigid which costs $25 ish (wife paid) and when you pass that you can either take a test and provide your own vehicle or go on a competency based assessment. i chose the cbt as they provide the vehicle. you find a company (i can reccommend if you wish) and go out with the instructor for a minimum of 6 or 8 hours and drive around the state. you are ok so long as you dont hit anything or anyone. the last half hour of the day is your driving test. so long as you pass you go back to rta and pay $21 and get your lr licence. you have to complete 40 competencies during the day. the day cbt training cost me $600. hope this helps.
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Old Sep 15th 2008, 12:05 am
  #152  
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now the good news. before you come over read this. i was given a brochure and i was also told at interview that the pay is $80,000 for icp on average with a pay award pending. we have now had the pay award as sanctioned by the independent review people. the base salary is around $51k with $4k para allowance. the $80k figure was achieved by adding on penalties like call off meal break, late meals etc.
the new award has taken away these penalties. we are now back to basic salary only. the chaps here are all seething as they will see a drastic reduction in pay. think on people.

the sun is still shining and it was 31.5C in eaqrly spring yesterday
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Old Sep 15th 2008, 8:42 am
  #153  
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Default Re: NSW Ambulance service

Originally Posted by teepee
now the good news. before you come over read this. i was given a brochure and i was also told at interview that the pay is $80,000 for icp on average with a pay award pending. we have now had the pay award as sanctioned by the independent review people. the base salary is around $51k with $4k para allowance. the $80k figure was achieved by adding on penalties like call off meal break, late meals etc.
the new award has taken away these penalties. we are now back to basic salary only. the chaps here are all seething as they will see a drastic reduction in pay. think on people.

the sun is still shining and it was 31.5C in eaqrly spring yesterday
Hmm, that news sorta mutes that I've just received notification that I've been assessed as ICP level and they want me out for interview sometime Sept-November

What visa will I need to go for interview/ testing?

Cheers!

Last edited by theotherphil; Sep 15th 2008 at 9:38 am.
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Old Sep 15th 2008, 11:45 am
  #154  
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Default Re: NSW Ambulance service

You can go out on your regular holiday type one. I didn't even realise until I got to the airport that I needed one (can be done online). Ended up getting it issued about 2 hrs before going out at the Virgin Atlantic desk while booking in (didn't cost a penny).
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Old Sep 15th 2008, 11:58 am
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Default Re: NSW Ambulance service

Originally Posted by teepee
now the good news. before you come over read this. i was given a brochure and i was also told at interview that the pay is $80,000 for icp on average with a pay award pending. we have now had the pay award as sanctioned by the independent review people. the base salary is around $51k with $4k para allowance. the $80k figure was achieved by adding on penalties like call off meal break, late meals etc.
the new award has taken away these penalties. we are now back to basic salary only. the chaps here are all seething as they will see a drastic reduction in pay. think on people.

the sun is still shining and it was 31.5C in eaqrly spring yesterday
Teepee,
What about the shift penalties? Do you still get those? Is Overtime still paid for late finishes and OD working at same rates??

If they have taken away these penalties for being called off break, then I take it the breaks are now unpaid???

Have read a few news articles on internet which make the situation out there sound pretty desperate at the moment with Paramedics and other Emergency workers threatening to quit en masse over their pay offers!!??

P.S.Thanks for the info on the driving licence
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Old Sep 16th 2008, 2:53 am
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just heard that we are on strike from friday night. as is usual in these things i heard from the radio news (abc) not the union. if any of you guys remember 1989/90 you will understand my joy there has been a lot of political movement over here state wise and we have a new health minister who has said that his door is open so maybe there is a little glimmer of hope. he is going to look at the removal of rescue role from ambulance as well as the pay and staffing issue. i will keep you posted. dont worry tho as i dont think any of us brits come here for the money.

the sun is out again and its 20C
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Old Sep 16th 2008, 3:14 am
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Default Re: NSW Ambulance service

Originally Posted by theotherphil
Hmm, that news sorta mutes that I've just received notification that I've been assessed as ICP level and they want me out for interview sometime Sept-November

What visa will I need to go for interview/ testing?

Cheers!
hey otherphil congrats on your news. you will be coming at a pleasant time of year. i came for interview last september and i started in july this year so use that as a timeline guide. hopefully they will sort the pay thing out, im not trying to put a dampener on things here but i think its fair to let everyone know how they work here before you commit too much financially. enjoy your trip and good luck at interview.
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Old Sep 16th 2008, 10:56 am
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Default Re: NSW Ambulance service

Hi everyone,
Just to add to Teepees posts - i am 8 weeks behind teepee and as such i am still doing the 8 week induction at HQ. The pay issue has of course been a hot topic of discussion here and i will try to fill you on what I have "heard".
This is what i have been told by educators here at Rozelle so i cannot guarantee it is gospel. However, The way i understand it:
- yes the late/missed meal allowance has been axed. However it has been replaced by a payment of 1 hour OT.
-The ACLS allowance and paramedic allowance have also been axed, but as an ICP you would qualify for a Paramedic Specialist payment.
-I also read on the award, that ICP would basically get a 12-13% pay rise on base salary.
-OT and late finish payments remain unchanged.
- 14 hour night shifts are to be done way with in lieu of 12 hr shifts - 4 on, 4/5 off.

Basically, if you work on a busy station and you got regular missed meals, you may be out of pocket. However, if you work on a quiter station, you stand to gain due to an increased base pay.

I stand to be corrected by those already on the road and working the system, but this was how it was explained to me.
Hope this helps and puts another perspective on it. Like Teepee says, i guess none of us came here for the money!!
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Old Sep 16th 2008, 11:42 am
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Default Re: NSW Ambulance service

Just to qualify Teepees comments, yes the NSW ambo service is in a bit of a mess and reminds me of my service (East Anglia) a few years back with the govt enquiry, etc. Things turned a corner after that, so lets hope the same happens here.

These things always look bad to begin with, but often sort themselves out eventually. As i have said before, it is what you do with you life out of work that is as much about the move as the job itself.

all the best,
chris
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Old Sep 16th 2008, 3:21 pm
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Just to reiterate that all comments from those who've been/are going through the process are all very much appreciated and a great help to those of us a bit further back along the line. Keep up the good work.
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Old Sep 16th 2008, 3:44 pm
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Hi Chris,
hope everything`s fine.
The new award: Is it published somewhere in the www?
Cheers
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Old Sep 16th 2008, 4:41 pm
  #162  
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Just to echo Boweaver in saying that the posts from those already out there are very much appreciated and supportive!!
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Old Sep 16th 2008, 11:07 pm
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Default Re: NSW Ambulance service

hi, sorry if my last post was a little depressing, i had just finished one of the 14 (read 15) hour night shifts.

thanks for your input chris, you explained it better than the guys on station. the full award is 64 pages long! and they kept most of it the same but just tweaked little bits for example at present they have to post the rota 14 days in advance. now its 7 days in advance but they can change that at shorter notice as well. difficult to find in 64 pages.

i have only had 2 full paypackets since leaving school so i was on absolute basic in training and i dont think i will notice the cuts as much as some of the people who are spent to the limit. the good news about the award is that the money seems o be transfering from penalties to basic wage. basic wage is pensionable penalties are generally not. one of the issues that i think will affect us brits the most is that they are trying to encourage movement to rural locations. incentives include rental subsidy, hecs reimbursement (student loan) priority for clinical enhancement. i plan to move from the metroplolis eventually so these steps may make it harder to get out of the city away from the busy stations. under this new award i will get paid the same or most likely less (min callout even if cancelled) for being out all night as someone in the sticks tucked up in bed. few rural stations have icp so to get clinical enhancement you will be moved back into the citys (this bit shouldnt apply to us as we are already icp) but if you are icp going country you will only be paid to max of whatever grade is required at that station. usually p1.

there are mumblings on station about taking some drugs and skills off us as well. maybe chris can confirm from the hub. all these events seem to be universal and come around in cycles dont you think?

weather calmed down a bit. yesterday sunny and 20C today the same but looking to 28C by the weekend. very pleasant for spring.

Last edited by teepee; Sep 16th 2008 at 11:20 pm. Reason: more info
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Old Sep 17th 2008, 7:26 am
  #164  
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hi teepee,

Yep, thats pretty much how i hear it. As for de-skilling - i was talking to the paramedic educators yesterday - what i hear is that they are looking to put more skills on the P1's ( somewhere between a Tech and Para in the UK) rather than take them off the ICP's. I gather ICP's will be around in the current role for a while yet ( ie working together on a vehicle and attending/backing up serious jobs). They are, however, looking at where the role of ICP's is going and it looks like it may be towards more autonomous practice, following the model of ECP's in the UK. A number of ECP's are currently piloting a project in the Windsor/Richmond area at the moment.

Hope that gives a bit of an insight into where things are heading.......possibly!!! Things are a bit up in the air at the moment, so i guess the service is in a fluid state and things may change.

Supposed to be 32c this weekend - get the speedos out!!!
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Old Sep 17th 2008, 7:29 am
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one other thing - intubation may be out for ICP's other than certain circumstances and LMA's in - may cause some rumblings amongest current ICP's, but have'nt we done that in the UK over the last few years? (certainly in East of England). Basically, NSW seem to follow the UK in alot of its protocols, so there seems to be a bit of a time lag thing going on!!!
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