AMBULANCE union activities are not expected to impact patients within the Rural City of Wangaratta, as negotiations continue over a new enterprise agreement for paramedics across the state.

The Victorian Ambulance Union (VAU) has been negotiating with Ambulance Victoria (AV) over the last 12 months, seeking improvements to the ambulance workplace to keep experienced staff in the job, amid news more than half of AV’s paramedic workforce has been employed less than five years.

A recent survey conducted by Swinburne and RMIT reportedly found 57 per cent of paramedics were considering leaving the profession, a near 100 per cent increase on 2020’s figure (29pc), while 20 per cent intended to seek new employment opportunities over the coming 12 months.

As part of protected industrial action, campaign messages will be written on ambulance vehicles, paramedics will refuse to take billing details, and ambulances which are ramped at hospitals for greater than 40 minutes will activate their beacons.

VAU secretary, Danny Hill, said actions were aimed at stepping beyond the rules AV impose on members speaking to the media.

“The results of the survey show that despite the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) review and all the promises about becoming a better employer, nothing has improved for our members,” he said.

“One in five paramedics are planning to leave within a year and many more are thinking about leaving.

“The survey also shows that trust in senior management has completely plummeted to its lowest levels ever – if only five per cent of your workforce trusted you to make the right decision, it’s probably time to rethink your position.

“This EBA is about making the job more survivable by having better work-life balance, reasonable workload, getting home to family, and hopefully being able to retain the experienced workforce.

“Ambos are dedicated to saving lives, but they deserve to have a life too.”

An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said the action would not impact service delivery.

“We value our staff – paramedics, operational and administrative – for the commitment and dedication they show every day,” the spokesperson said.

“We continue to focus on developing and supporting our people and providing world class, high quality care to the Victorian community.

“Ambulance Victoria continues to negotiate with employee representatives in good faith and we hope to reach a fair, reasonable and mutually beneficial agreement soon.”