Ambulance Victoria review – Update 15 (7 March 2022)

7 March 2022

Hi everyone

I am pleased to provide the 15^th Independent review into workplace equality at Ambulance Victoria.

Since my last update, the team and I have been finalising Volume II of the final report, which will be released on 31 March 2022. As a reminder, this volume of the report will detail our findings and recommendations on equality, fairness and inclusion. Volume II builds on our analysis and recommendations outlined in Volume I, which dealt with safety, respect and trust.

Thank you to all the employees, first responders and volunteers who shared their experiences, views and suggestions with us so generously and candidly. My team may have been in touch with you over the last few weeks to ask for your consent to use a de-identified quote or case study from your interviews, submissions and participation in focus groups. While we are not able to feature every story from everyone who came forward, every experience that you shared has shaped the Commission’s findings and we are ever grateful to those who came forward.

Additionally, my team and I have consulted with Ambulance Victoria’s Board and Executive on the key findings and recommendations in Volume II. We have also spoken with and consulted other key stakeholders, including the Department of Health, Worksafe, unions and professional associations, and the Commission for Gender Equality in the Public Sector. They have shared their expertise and suggestions with us to help refine our proposed recommendations.

Volume II has now gone into production. This means that our analysis and recommendations is finalised, and the report will be carefully designed and prepared for publication on 31 March 2022. After Volume II is released, you will be able to access a copy of the report here.

Finally, I want to let you know that Simone Cusack (the Commission’s Director, Policy and Research) has accepted a secondment to Ambulance Victoria to step into the role of inaugural Executive Director, Equality and Workplace Reform. Simone will commence this role on 23 March 2022. This will be an opportunity for Simone’s extensive expertise and experience with the Commission to support the implementation of our recommendations for reform and assist Ambulance Victoria to achieve lasting systemic and cultural change.

I want to personally reassure all participants that this appointment does not in any way impact the confidentiality of information shared by participants with the Commission as part of the review.  All current and former Commission staff have strict secrecy, confidentiality and privacy obligations to keep information collected as part of the Commission’s functions confidential. The Commission and our review team also continue to be subject to ethical obligations and oversight in line with our ethics approval for this review.

Volume I and II of the Commission’s final report represent the first step towards making Ambulance Victoria a better, safer, and more equal place to work. There are many more steps ahead, including Phases 2 and 3 of the review. During Phase 2, which will take place after 31 March 2022, the Commission will provide ongoing support and guidance to Ambulance Victoria to implement our recommendations. During Phase 3, which will take place in the second half of 2023, we will conduct an audit to assess the extent to which Ambulance Victoria has implemented our recommendations, and again publish our findings publicly.

I look forward to presenting our findings and recommendations and will be in touch again with further information about the report’s on 31 March 2022.

Take care

Ro Allen
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner