❓ Hon. Adele Farina questions the formula and allocation of paramedics and community paramedics in WA country sub-centres, focusing on staffing levels, rostering, and support for volunteer ambulance officers. The response clarifies the role of community paramedics and their support for volunteer sub-centres.
AnsweredQoN 4533Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What is the formula
for determining: (a) the number of paramedics for each country
sub-centre; and (b) the number of
community paramedics for each country
sub-centre? (2) What is the formula
for determining that a country sub-centre will have a community paramedic, as opposed
to a paramedic? (3) Does the formula
provide for allocation of a part community paramedic, or one community paramedic
FTE, to cover a number of country sub-centres: (a) what is the formula for such a calculation? (4) Which country
sub-centres have a community paramedic allocated to that sub-centre only? (5) For those country
sub-centres with a community paramedic: (a) is there a community
paramedic rostered on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or does the community paramedic work office hours
only; and (b) is a relief provided
when the community paramedic goes on leave?
for determining: (a) the number of paramedics for each country
sub-centre; and (b) the number of
community paramedics for each country
sub-centre? (2) What is the formula
for determining that a country sub-centre will have a community paramedic, as opposed
to a paramedic? (3) Does the formula
provide for allocation of a part community paramedic, or one community paramedic
FTE, to cover a number of country sub-centres: (a) what is the formula for such a calculation? (4) Which country
sub-centres have a community paramedic allocated to that sub-centre only? (5) For those country
sub-centres with a community paramedic: (a) is there a community
paramedic rostered on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or does the community paramedic work office hours
only; and (b) is a relief provided
when the community paramedic goes on leave?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
22 November 2016
Responded by
Minister for Planning representing the Minister for Health
Response time
35 days
(1-3) The formula for determining the number of paramedics for each country sub centre is outlined in the Country Sub Centre Model in the Service Agreement between the State of Western Australia and St John Ambulance WA Ltd. Schedule 4, Clause 21. [see tabled paper no.]
A Community Paramedic is provided to support sub centres performing between 250 – 1000 cases per year. The Community Paramedic services multiple sub centres and currently there is a 1:4 ratio of Community Paramedics to volunteer sub centres. Their role is to provide support, training, and mentoring for volunteer sub centres. They are not put in place to respond to cases although for major incidents they may respond to assist Volunteer Ambulance Officer crews if they are available and within responding distance of the incident.
(4) There are no Community Paramedics allocated to an individual sub centre.
(5)(a) Community Paramedics are not rostered on 24 hours a day. They work flexible hours according to the needs of the volunteers in the area and as agreed with SJA Regional Managers.
(b) Given the role of the Community Paramedic is predominantly training, supporting, and mentoring volunteer ambulance officers, relief community paramedics are provided on an as needs basis. Community Paramedic relief is usually only for periods of leave of four weeks or more.
A Community Paramedic is provided to support sub centres performing between 250 – 1000 cases per year. The Community Paramedic services multiple sub centres and currently there is a 1:4 ratio of Community Paramedics to volunteer sub centres. Their role is to provide support, training, and mentoring for volunteer sub centres. They are not put in place to respond to cases although for major incidents they may respond to assist Volunteer Ambulance Officer crews if they are available and within responding distance of the incident.
(4) There are no Community Paramedics allocated to an individual sub centre.
(5)(a) Community Paramedics are not rostered on 24 hours a day. They work flexible hours according to the needs of the volunteers in the area and as agreed with SJA Regional Managers.
(b) Given the role of the Community Paramedic is predominantly training, supporting, and mentoring volunteer ambulance officers, relief community paramedics are provided on an as needs basis. Community Paramedic relief is usually only for periods of leave of four weeks or more.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.