AFTER a lengthy battle, NSW paramedics, including those at Muswellbrook, are finally celebrating a significant victory.
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The Health Services Union (HSU) sought parity with other emergency services for their death and disability scheme.
And, on Wednesday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced a $48 million investment, which included $20 million over two-and-a-half years, then $5 million per year ongoing for a wellbeing program; and increased income protection for paramedics injured at work to at least five years.
Ambulance division councillor Hunter New England Mick Callinan said the HSU was very pleased the government had come up with at least three options for paramedics to vote on.
“It will now go out to the paramedics to pick which scheme they feel they want the government to implement,” he told the Muswellbrook Chronicle.
“There has been a lot of hard work behind the scenes from the union and the members.
“There were petitions run by paramedics out in the local community where they collected 17,000 signatures.
“There was also a liquid chalk campaign where messages were written on the sides of ambulances.
“One of the options does put it on parity with other services but there are two other options there that are slightly different, and it will be up to individual paramedics circumstances as to which option they feel best suits them.
“We think its a good outcome, especially with the injection of a total of $48 million being put into the injury prevention.”
The Muswellbrook man thanked the community for their efforts during the battle.
“The unwavering support they gave via the social media campaign – the messages, the signatures for the petitions,” he said.
“Because really, at the end of the day, without their support, we would have just been a lonely voice.”