Members, the AEAWA have written to St John to reject the new “Essential Learning” requirements announced in an email from Chief People Officer Rene Anderson on 11 September. Every few years, St john floats the idea of a mandatory training package that they refuse to schedule proper time or provide compensation. The AEAWA have always rejected these initiatives as the legislation is clear on compensation for mandatory training.
What St John is asking:
Complete mandatory one-hour annual online training to achieve organisational Policy compliance. The accompanying FAQ explicitly states, “Overtime is not provided for completing your Essential Learning” and expects you to complete it “in manageable sections at your own pace” – effectively in your own time.
Why this is unacceptable:
This directly breaches your Enterprise Agreement. Whether you’re Paramedic, SCC, or Transport, your EA states training must be “scheduled during normal working hours where possible or as otherwise agreed.” St John is making no effort to provide paid time.
We already have a solution:
Your Enterprise Agreement includes a provision for Continuing Education Program (CEP) that allows up to 20% non-clinical content – exactly what Essential Learning covers. St John is choosing to bypass their own paid training framework to avoid compensating you properly.
Current reality:
With crib break compliance at historic lows and shift extensions at record levels, our members can’t even get uninterrupted time to eat. How are you expected to complete training on serious topics like child safeguarding and sexual harassment? Completing this while ramped or during shifts compromises both patient care and meaningful learning.
AEAWA advice to members:
DO NOT complete Essential Learning in your own time. Where this training cannot be completed during work hours without interrupting duties, breaks, or essential rest periods, do not proceed until proper paid time is allocated. If management pressures you, ask for P8 card allocation and contact the AEAWA.
What we’re demanding:
Dedicated paid time through P8 cards, overtime rates for after-hours completion, or dedicated time allocation during CEP with full pay. This is work for the employer’s benefit and must be compensated accordingly.
Next steps:
We’ve formally rejected this proposal and are prepared to use dispute procedures if St John proceeds without addressing our concerns. ALL work must be done in paid time – this is a fundamental principle we will not compromise on. Fair Work Australia agree that workers deserve to be paid for all work, including mandatory training.