❓ Hon Adele Farina questions the Minister for Health regarding St John Ambulance's policies on paramedics facing complaints, specifically concerning confidentiality and access to support. The Parliamentary Secretary denies awareness and intervention authority.
AnsweredQoN 167Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ST JOHN
AMBULANCE — PARAMEDICS — WELLBEING
AND SUPPORT SERVICES
167. Hon ADELE FARINA to the
parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Health:
(1) Is the
Minister for Health aware that St John Ambulance management letters to
paramedics notifying of a complaint or allegation against a paramedic include a
statement along the lines of, ''I take this opportunity to advise you
that the matter is strictly confidential and must not be discussed with anyone
at St John, other than,'' and then the names of the St John officers
undertaking the investigation are inserted, ''or elsewhere, whether they
are involved in the matter or not''; and, is the minister aware that
disclosure by paramedics is grounds for termination?
(2) Does the
minister agree that denying paramedics the opportunity to speak with
colleagues, the St John chaplain or to seek advice from their union, Fair Work
Commission or a lawyer is reasonable?
(3) Is the minister aware that the same letter also
includes the statement, ''I appreciate that this may be stressful to the
employee and as such I encourage you to access St John Wellbeing and Support
Services''?
(4) Does the
minister agree that contacting wellbeing and support services to get support is
problematic when the paramedic is prohibited, under threat of termination, from
discussing the matter with anyone?
(5) Now that the
minister has been made aware of this, will the minister intervene to require St
John to change its policies and practices to enable paramedics to get the
support they require?
AMBULANCE — PARAMEDICS — WELLBEING
AND SUPPORT SERVICES
167. Hon ADELE FARINA to the
parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Health:
(1) Is the
Minister for Health aware that St John Ambulance management letters to
paramedics notifying of a complaint or allegation against a paramedic include a
statement along the lines of, ''I take this opportunity to advise you
that the matter is strictly confidential and must not be discussed with anyone
at St John, other than,'' and then the names of the St John officers
undertaking the investigation are inserted, ''or elsewhere, whether they
are involved in the matter or not''; and, is the minister aware that
disclosure by paramedics is grounds for termination?
(2) Does the
minister agree that denying paramedics the opportunity to speak with
colleagues, the St John chaplain or to seek advice from their union, Fair Work
Commission or a lawyer is reasonable?
(3) Is the minister aware that the same letter also
includes the statement, ''I appreciate that this may be stressful to the
employee and as such I encourage you to access St John Wellbeing and Support
Services''?
(4) Does the
minister agree that contacting wellbeing and support services to get support is
problematic when the paramedic is prohibited, under threat of termination, from
discussing the matter with anyone?
(5) Now that the
minister has been made aware of this, will the minister intervene to require St
John to change its policies and practices to enable paramedics to get the
support they require?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The minister
was not aware of this prior to the member asking her question. The minister has
received advice that St John Ambulance employees are free to communicate
appropriately with their support people and external representatives—medical,
legal, industrial or otherwise—and the quote referred to in the member's
question is not a standard statement in management letters.
Hon Adele Farina : It is.
Hon ALYSSA HAYDEN : Would the member like to hear the
answer?
Hon Adele Farina : Yes, I would.
Hon ALYSSA HAYDEN : Disciplinary matters are between St
John Ambulance as the employer and paramedics as employees.
(2) Refer to the
response to (1). This is a matter outside of the scope of the Department of
Health's relationship with St John Ambulance.
(3) No. It is
understood that St John Ambulance encourages all staff to seek wellbeing and
support services when faced with challenging situations.
(4) No. Wellbeing
and support services can provide support without the need to discuss specific
details of cases being investigated.
(5) No. The
relationship between the Department of Health and St John Ambulance is by way
of a contract. The minister does not have authority to intervene in matters
outside of the scope of that contract, including employee relations.
some notice of the question.
(1) The minister
was not aware of this prior to the member asking her question. The minister has
received advice that St John Ambulance employees are free to communicate
appropriately with their support people and external representatives—medical,
legal, industrial or otherwise—and the quote referred to in the member's
question is not a standard statement in management letters.
Hon Adele Farina : It is.
Hon ALYSSA HAYDEN : Would the member like to hear the
answer?
Hon Adele Farina : Yes, I would.
Hon ALYSSA HAYDEN : Disciplinary matters are between St
John Ambulance as the employer and paramedics as employees.
(2) Refer to the
response to (1). This is a matter outside of the scope of the Department of
Health's relationship with St John Ambulance.
(3) No. It is
understood that St John Ambulance encourages all staff to seek wellbeing and
support services when faced with challenging situations.
(4) No. Wellbeing
and support services can provide support without the need to discuss specific
details of cases being investigated.
(5) No. The
relationship between the Department of Health and St John Ambulance is by way
of a contract. The minister does not have authority to intervene in matters
outside of the scope of that contract, including employee relations.
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