“It is effectively a witch-hunt. Because I’ve been a health and safety rep for some time.”
The Victorian Ambulance Union has slammed the decision.
“We certainly don’t think it’s fair. It’s a massive overreach to terminate someone over this,” union secretary Danny Hill said.
“This photo really highlighted a key issue that the public I think took very seriously.
“I think he deserves to be commended for his actions, not terminated.”
Victorian Ambulance Union secretary Danny Hill.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui
The paramedic who was driving the rolled ambulance is yet to return to work himself.
He contacted NPT after learning Bishop had been stood down, explaining that he was grateful the NPT staff had self-responded to his case and helped to free him.
Avard wrote in an email: “It would be very disappointing for me if the NPT crew has been adversely affected by attending me that night. That’s what mates do and the emergency services need to look after and support one another.”
Bishop is looking to pursue an unfair dismissal case. NPT has been contacted for comment.
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Avard had already worked more than 14 hours on June 26 when he was asked to respond to a job almost 50 kilometres away.
Four hours later, Avard was just 400 metres from his driveway when he nodded off and crashed.
When news of the crash became public, Ambulance Victoria infuriated other paramedics by issuing a statement claiming Avard “was not working an 18.5-hour shift as alleged”.
They later apologised for the “framing of the statement”, clarifying the length of Avard’s shift was never doubted, but said he had not been rostered to work for 18.5 hours.
The case became a lightning rod for wider issues between paramedics and Ambulance Victoria including complaints of burnout and a toxic workplace culture.
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