By DANIELLE GALVIN
PAKENHAM paramedics have hit back at State Government advertisements of their latest pay offer.
The advertisements, which they say make them out to be “greedy ambos” have been featuring in local newspapers across the state.
But Pakenham paramedic Jo Algie said the ads were a “waste of money” and could have funded resources the branch desperately needed.
“We all live around here so for us, we have family here as well and if both ambulances are out, which is very common, the area is completely uncovered,” she said.
“The money they have spent could fund another ambulance here.
“We are called to Warragul, Grantville, up past Emerald and we are getting jobs from Warburton and as far as Frankston.”
Ms Algie said the suggestion that most paramedics had an average income of $110,000 was inaccurate and “ridiculous.”
She said there were a number of issues facing local paramedics, especially given the area they had to cover.
“If someone arrests here, and there’s no ambulance, that’s fine they have a nice ad in the paper but no ambulance,” she said.
Local paramedics spoke to the Gazette about the effects of the job they love, a job that is demanding and rewarding at the same time.
“We do 10-hour days, two 14-hour nights,” Ms Algie said.
“Sometimes in winter, we are called to Warburton. That’s an hour there and back.”
Mark Macreadie is another paramedic based at the Main Street branch.
He said the ads spread “half truths” and that the region was considered one of “resource need” which meant it was difficult to cover.
The paramedics say they are called out of the shire “all the time” and often for a few hours.
“If both of our two ambulances are out, and Beaconsfield and Berwick are out, which they are all the time then there is no-one between Dandenong and Warragul,” he said.
Mr Macreadie said they just wanted fair pay.
“New South Wales, South Australia, Canberra – they are all paid $20,000 or so more than us,” he said.
“We just want what’s fair.”
Ambulance Victoria Group Manager Andrew Watson said a sophisticated communications and dispatch system provided an accurate picture of what each ambulance was doing at any particular time.
He said that meant Ambulance Victoria was aware of the ambulance cover at every Victorian locality at all times.
“The number of paramedics working in Pakenham is being boosted with an extra ambulance to begin operating from Pakenham for 12 hours a day by the end of the year,” he said.
“We also have a new 12-hour team starting at Hampton Park this March as part of the government’s $151 million commitment to ambulances.
“We have a system that allows us to move ambulances around Melbourne to provide the best possible cover for the community.”
Mr Watson said if Pakenham’s paramedics were already at cases treating patients when another triple zero call came through, the nearest most appropriate ambulance was dispatched to that call.
