Paramedics across NSW have forfeited nothing in the recent pay increase they secured, offering a bigger glimpse of hope when it comes to recruitment in the bush. 

The pay dispute with the NSW Government came to an end this week, with paramedics walking out with an average wage increase of 25 per cent over four years, as part of a $500 million deal. 

Gilgandra paramedic and Australian Paramedics Association (NSW) Vice President Scott Beaton said that the role of a paramedic is far from what it once was, and the pay should reflect that. 

“At the moment it’s a little surreal. It’s going to take a while to sink in…it’s been a long fight,” Mr Beaton said. 

“The skills for paramedics over the last 10 or 12 years has been a dramatic jump in order to be able to save lives.”

While the pay changes will be applied based on experience, Mr Beaton said that in combination with other incentives, it stands to help recruitment numbers in country areas. 

“Given that they’re pushing out 500 paramedics specifically for regional and rural (areas), I’m quite hopeful that it will attract people to the area,” he said. 

The earlier incentive of 500 paramedics for regional, rural and remote NSW came as a result of the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Rural and Regional Healthcare. 

The final pay agreement was delivered following a series of late-night discussions between the Health Services Union and Government. 

Under the new agreement, 5000 paramedics will receive an increase of between 11 per cent and 29 per cent, beginning from January 1, 2024.

Pending approval from the Industrial Relations Commission, the base pay of critical care paramedics will increase from $98,390 to $127,261 while the base pay of a specialist year three paramedic will increase from $90,711 to $117,328.

A first year paramedic’s pay will increase from $74,363 to $89,876 per year. 

“I’m well aware this issue has taken some time to resolve,” Health Minister Ryan Park said. 

“It reflects the fact paramedics today do so much more than take people to hospital.”

The pay agreement avoided the threat of a boycott of thousands of paramedics working on New Year’s Day.