The roster clause was varied in 2016 to provide members with more protection, but still enabling Ambulance Tasmania to meet its operational needs around covering ad-hoc variations eg sick leave, workers compensation, varying the skill mix etc.

Approximately 5 years ago, Ambulance Tasmania and HACSU agreed that any spare staff would be rostered a specific starting or home station for a shift and allocated a specific start and finish time, and this was incorporated into the agreement in 2016 and the same words are in the 2019 agreement - the one just approved.

Being ‘spare’ does not require additional flexibility beyond everyone else on the roster, because staff still get a starting station, shift start time and shift length as part of the rostering requirements - they're not “fair game” to be moved at short notice.

Clause 11 of the new agreement - same words from the last agreement - says “the roster shall show the location and time of commencing duty, time of ending duty…” and that “changes from the sequence are permitted with 56 days’ notice…” and “in the event that a change…” is required, “such change shall be discussed with the employee/s concerned prior to the change being made. Wherever possible a genuine attempt to reach mutual agreement on the detail of any change should be made.”

This gives members very good protection for changes. If a change is needed after the roster is published, even with more than 56 days’ notice, they're still required to consult and seek a mutual agreement about the change needed - but inside 56 days’ notice they can't change your roster without your consent.

Changes with >56 days’ notice on a published roster – must consult and attempt mutual agreement.
Changes with <56 days’ notice on a published roster – must consult and changes only by consent.


For any clarification, please contact a delegate or Chris Kennedy at HACSU.