South Australian ambulance officers are set to receive significant wage increases and enhanced working conditions following an endorsement of the State Government’s latest enterprise bargaining offer. The newly agreed SA Ambulance Service Enterprise Agreement 2025, which spans from December 2025 to December 2028, will result in a total wage rise of 13.5 per cent, distributed across four annual increments.
The agreement, which was voted favourably by approximately 2,100 workers, comes after the leadership of the Ambulance Employee Association (AEA) approved the offer in December. This approval was the result of extensive and cooperative negotiations between the union and the state government.
The agreement includes the introduction of additional pay points and classification increments. There are also penalty payments for end-of-shift overtime, which are set to increase to 200 per cent. Employees can expect increased regional incentive payments along with improved paid primary carer leave and paid partner leave. Additionally, a professional development allowance of $1,200 per year is part of the agreement.
Following the successful employee ballot, the endorsed agreement will soon be submitted to the South Australian Employment Tribunal for final approval.
This agreement is the second successful negotiation with ambulance officers during the current term under the Malinauskas Labor Government. Previously in 2022, the government reached an agreement which provided ambulance officers their first pay rise in four years.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector Kyam Maher shared, “Ambulance officers do extraordinary work looking after our community and saving lives. Our ambos deserve a real wage increase well above inflation, and that is what this agreement delivers.
“This agreement also builds on the significant investment this Government has made in our public health system, having delivered more paramedics, more ambulance officers, more ambulance stations, more hospital beds, and improved ambulance response times.”
The agreement also aligns with broader government investments in the public health sector. Initiatives include the construction of 24 new or upgraded ambulance stations with three-quarters already completed, over 600 added hospital beds to enhance capacity, and the recruitment of more than 2,700 additional frontline health workers, including 350 extra ambulance officers.
This development is part of a wave of successful enterprise agreements facilitated by the government in recent times, covering various sectors such as firefighters, allied health workers, doctors, aged care workers, police, and SA Water staff.
Paul Ekkelboom, General Secretary of the Ambulance Employees Association shared, “The AEA ran a targeted and strategic campaign focused on securing real wage growth, strengthening professional recognition, and delivering meaningful initiatives to support attraction and retention across the service. Today, members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the new Enterprise Agreement.
“This result reflects more than support for improved conditions—it reflects the culture that defines our union. A culture built on solidarity, collective strength, and the belief that when one of us rises, we all rise together.”
The support for the new Enterprise Agreement is part of a strong commitment to improving conditions for ambulance officers, enhancing their professional recognition, and ensuring sustainable future working environments within the sector.
