ACT Ambulance Service stations had to close at least 68 times since April 2024 due to staffing pressures. Photo: James Coleman.
The paramedic’s union is having “ongoing and encouraging” conversations about getting more frontline workers on the ground, but the Christmas deadline for a solid plan hasn’t yet been met.
It comes as new documents reveal ACT ambulance stations had to be closed at least 68 times since April 2024 due to staffing pressures.
That month is when a new ambulance roster system was implemented, which a review found was benefitting employees but starkly showed how under-resourced the service is in Canberra.
Police, Emergency Services and Community Safety Shadow Minister Deborah Morris blasted the government, stating it had undermined the Territory’s ambulance services.
“Life-saving emergency health care has potentially been compromised because of Labor’s failure to plan for the roster change and adequately fund our ambulance service,” she said.
“This has placed an enormous moral burden on paramedics who feel distressed when they can’t attend critical incidents due to staff shortages.
“The government needs to take immediate action to stabilise roster coverage and prevent below minimum crewing levels.”
Transport Workers Union ACT paramedics’ representative Ben Sweaney previously outlined to Region some ways the ACT Government could more quickly bolster the amount of paramedics in Canberra.
He had called for a solid funding plan from the ACT Government by Christmas, but that has not materialised.
“We continue to have positive discussion about the need to adequately resource the roster and enabling services … [they are] ongoing and encouraging,” he said.
“Our paramedics continue to provide the very best level of pre-hospital care in Australia.”
Mr Sweaney noted the roster had been well received by members and had resulted in a safer working environment.
“We needed to implement the new roster, as the previous roster was unsafe and unsustainable,” he said.
“Unlike the old roster, where we ran short over two 14-hour night shifts, now we see pressure between midnight and 5 am.”
The ACT Government will be required to publicly report station closures, overtime worked and crewing levels, after the Legislative Assembly passed a motion from Ms Morris earlier this month.
“This is an important transparency measure to keep the government honest,” she said.
“They can no longer hide their failure to take care of our ambulance service under a blanket of secrecy.”
