MORE paramedics will be harmed in the coming months while waiting on the results of an Ambulance Victoria-wide investigation, a union leader has warned.
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Ambulance Employees Australia Victoria cited the cases of four regional paramedics, whose bullying and discrimination complaints the union alleged had not been acted on.
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A union representative said paramedics could not wait further months until the report's release for cultural change to be enacted.
AEAV secretary Brett Adie said recent cases suggested more people would be harmed in the months before the report was released and its recommendations implemented.
Mr Adie said reports to the union suggested members were experiencing the same approach to bullying and harassment they had for years.
He said despite calls from Ambulance Victoria chief executive Tony Walker for the VEOHRC to shine a light on the organisation's "rotten corners", things were yet to change within the organisation.
Mr Adie pointed to the case of four paramedics, who he said had made separate complaints of bullying and discrimination.
Mr Adie said the AEAV complained to Ambulance Victoria on behalf of one of the workers, but did not receive a response for five months.
He said Ambulance Victoria had told the AEAV it would not be able to proceed with action regarding the complaint.
Mr Adie said in the meantime three other paramedics spoke with Ambulance Victoria's Professional Conduct Unit.
He said Ambulance Victoria had not indicated to those people they were following up their complaints.
Mr Adie said at least one complainant was told Ambulance Victoria could not follow up the complaint because there was no evidence.
"If you piece it all together, it's quite a damning picture of the culture in that workplace," he said.
He pointed to the recently-released results of an AEAV survey, in which 87 per cent of respondents across the state said they had experienced bullying, harassment or discrimination in the previous five years.
Seventy-nine per cent of respondents said they had experienced managerial retribution because of making a complaint.
A total 348 current or former paramedics completed the survey, which was distributed by email and the union's social media.
The report acknowledged one factor drawing people to the survey was likely to be the fact they experienced bullying, discrimination and harassment.
But Mr Adie pointed to a Victorian government People Matter review of Ambulance Victoria, which showed 25 per cent of employees said they experienced bullying during 2020.
Ambulance Victoria declined to comment.
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