Ambulance Active Spring 2011Published By Countrywide Austral

active HEADER people
Welcoming NT’s new
Paramedic Educator
After almost two decades on the road,
Victorian paramedic Olga Bartasek has
travelled the long road to Darwin to
embark on a new career.
The former Team Manager at
Romsey and two year old son Nathan
moved from the family’s nine-acre property
in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges region in
November, in time to start work with St
John Ambulance as a paramedic educator.
Olga’s husband, Martin, who will
also start an exciting new career as a
commercial pilot with a local airline early
next year, initially sparked the move.
Martin and six year old Liam will make the
move after the family spends Christmas
together in Victoria.
“While the move interstate was primarily
for Martin’s work, I was also exploring
different career options and teaching has
always appealed to me,” she said.
“After 19 years on the road, the last 10
as team manager, I am looking forward to
this new educator’s role,” Olga said.
St John Ambulance will start a new
paramedic recruitment program in 2012,
different to many other states, where on
the job training will be supplemented with
a three-year degree from Perth-based
tertiary institute Edith Cowan University.
“The course in Darwin seems an ideal
model – on the job training coupled with
academic, studies,” Olga said.
“There are advantages to both academic
and time on ambulance models, but in
Darwin, the combination means graduates
have the theoretical knowledge in addition
to getting to know the practical aspect
of the job and learn to work closely in
their community.”
The new course starts next year and
Olga will be teaching within the Associate
Diploma course, registered with Edith
Cowan University, while retaining her
paramedic skill set and being available
to go out on the road if required.
“I’m expecting the on-road environment
to be quite different to what I’ve been
used to also,” Olga said.
“In the Northern Territory, St John
Ambulance still has two stretchers in their
vehicles, and two passenger seats in the
rear of the vehicle. I have been told it is
not uncommon to have four patients in
the ambulance at the one time.
“The organisation still has a large
number of volunteers they don’t have
their own helicopters, they use a
private company, whereas in Victoria
we have had the choice of four owned
and operated helicopters in different
corners of the state. The other obvious
difference, and challenge, will be the
distances. Sometimes, we will be travelling
200-400 kilometers away from the
nearest hospital.”
In addition to the career change
opportunity, the paramedic educator
position brings with it the family friendly
hours that Olga requires for her family
circumstances.
“I can work Monday to Friday with no
nights or weekend work,” she said.
“Having Nathan on my own with
no family or ready-made friends, and
therefore needing childcare, means day
time work was important to secure.”
While Olga and her family were
fortunate that the paramedic educator
position was available, the ambulance
industry too was lucky to not loose one
if its most experienced professionals.
Held in high esteem from colleagues
around the country, Olga’s keen interest
in Industrial Relations means she has
played a key advocacy role on behalf
of paramedics.
“I have a strong passion for advocating
for paramedics in the field, always striving
to maintain equality and fairness in the
“ I have a strong passion for advocating for
paramedics in the field, always striving to maintain
equality and fairness in the workplace in addition
to upholding basic moral rights,” she said.
workplace in addition to upholding basic
moral rights,” she said.
Olga has appeared at press conferences
to highlight the shortage of paramedics
and the effect it was having on existing
resources. On this issue, she has also
lobbied her local MPs over three major
towns in the Macedon Ranges region
having only one single officer on shift,
effectively doing the job on their own. In
collaboration with Ambulance Employees
Australia (VIC), her efforts locally have
resulted in Woodend now being staffed 24
hours a day, and an increase in resources at
the Gisborne and Kyneton station to two
paramedics on shift.
AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2011
33