Tiny town calls for parliamentary inquiry into SA Ambulance service

Pinnaroo community calls for SA Ambulance volunteer treatment inquiry In short: Around 240 Pinnaroo locals in South Australia's Murray Mallee came together to express concerns about their volunteer ambulance station services. They are calling for a parliamentary inquiry after one local volunteer was stood down after 50 years of service four weeks ago. What's next? State health minister Blair Boyer has confirmed an external investigation into the volunteer is underway, but many locals say it does not address broader systemic issues across the state. South Australian Ambulance Service's treatment of its volunteers should be independently scrutinised to ensure all of its stations can remain viable. That was the message coming from a 240-strong rural community meeting held in the tiny town of Pinnaroo on Thursday night. The town's local volunteers stopped work in support of colleague Rob Berlin, who they said was unfairly stood down after almost 50 years of service four weeks ago. The town has had no local volunteers since leaving SAAS to deploy paid paramedics and source volunteers from other stations. Mr Berlin was stood down over allegations relating to bullying and harassment. He disputes the claims. Health minister Blair Boyer confirmed an external investigation into the allegations against Mr Berlin would occur, but many locals said it would also need to include a broader overview of the system. Volunteer fears At Thursday's community meeting, the town voted on five action points to take to the minister in response to its ambulance service's current operation. Restoring volunteer confidence, restoring their wellbeing and calls for a parliamentary inquiry into the service were included. Event organiser Di Thornton, who runs the local Mallee Border Health Centre, said many volunteers currently did not feel comfortable returning to their duties. "They don't feel safe, and they're the words that are being said by local volunteers,"she said. "I don't think people have confidence in the SAAS processes at the moment." Service shortages Residents are concerned response times would not be as quick if a local service did not permanently return in the near future. Nancy Sharrad was an ambulance volunteer in Pinnaroo for more than 20 years, beginning in the 1980s. Her neighbour had a stroke 12 months ago and ambulance volunteers rendered aid within 15 minutes. "To get an ambulance [now], I believe they have paramedics stationed in Lameroo, which is half an hour away," she said. "I think it's a huge risk; it's not a good scene." Ms Sharrad said it was a sad reality to hear that local volunteers were feeling it was unsafe to return to their duties. "I think it's terrible, they're volunteers for goodness sake,"she said. "They give up their time and their jobs to go and save people's lives; it's appalling." External investigation 'not far enough' The state government announced an independent investigation into SAAS's disengagement of Mr Berlin would be confidential and defended its decision to make the results only visible to the chief executive. "When people raise serious allegations of bullying and harassment, they deserve the respect of them being taken seriously and be investigated without fear or favour," a government spokesperson said. Southern Mallee Council Mayor Ron Valentine said the community wanted the findings to be released more widely. "The community have grievances, and that will only be answered by someone who is independent and external to look where they need to look and report on it." Mr Valentine said an inquiry into the treatment of volunteers around South Australia needed to happen. "It's not just Pinnaroo, it's not just Rob Berlin … this is a statewide thing that needs to be looked at and addressed." An SA Ambulance spokesperson said the service valued its volunteers and had established channels, including the SAAS Volunteer Health Advisory Council (SAASVHAC), which reports directly to the minister, to support their representation and provide a forum for engagement and discussion. "There have been no concerns raised via the SAASVHAC," the spokesperson said. "Due to the confidentiality provisions, SAAS is unable make further comment on this matter at this stage."