We’ve been in talks with ambulance management over the last few days to try and get them to fix the parking situation at Southern HQ.

We’re baffled that a long-standing parking arrangement was ended with less than 36 hours’ notice – and we’re even more baffled that the Department would make ambulance shift workers, who keep our vital emergency service running day in and day out, worry about car parks.

The fact is that public transport is not viable for most workers in Hobart – and even if it was, it becomes a safety issue quickly when you’ve got to walk back to your car from a station in the dark (especially if you don’t know what time you’re going to knock off).

Until the Department fixes this, our previous advice stands: park in Brisbane St, then Top Deck, then the TFS car park. If necessary (and as a last resort), park in the HQ ambulance bay and relocate the ambulance to Melville Street in the spots designated for AT vehicles roadside – but only if there’s no other option.

Your award also says that when you work overtime and get a lift in or bus (if it’s not cancelled) that if there’s no transport home at knock off, your employer must arrange a way home within half an hour of your finish time.

However, you should try and tell your OS as soon as you can on shift if you plan on claiming this entitlement – and it only applies if you work overtime and there’s no public transport.

You deserve to be safe at work – getting to your shift and back is a big part of that.

Make sure you keep an eye out for a chance to have your say about ramping later this week. In the meantime, if you’ve got questions or need more information, give us a call – we’ll back you in.