Firey left high and dry
Kingston's Peter Ottley has served the community as volunteer firefighter for 13 years but now he needs help himself from ACC, it isn't there.
Ottley attended the fatal accident involving a bus and car near the notorious Devil's Staircase, on State Highway 6, in December. Invercargill 36-year-old Timothy Herrick, driving the car, was killed and more than 20 people were injured, several seriously.
It was the latest of more than a dozen horrific, bloody crashes and other call outs Ottley's attended over the years, some involving friends and acquaintances, and all leaving a lasting mark and cumulative impact on the Southlander's psyche.
This one was the final straw and he resigned from his position as Kingston's volunteer fire chief after being diagnosed with PTSD and has taken time off from his regular full-time job with Carters.
But when he made a claim to ACC to cover his wages, it was denied. The insurer confirms to Lakes Weekly that while it covers everyone in NZ who is injured in an accident, it only covers mental injury claims if they are related to an incident at your paid job, or stem from a physical injury they cover.
That means that while paid firefighters are covered for psychological trauma, New Zealand's nearly 12,000 volunteer firefighters are not.
"Two days after that big accident, for the first time in my life I just sort of got angry," Ottley, 58, says. "I broke down, which is not like me. It was horrible. Over Christmas, I was hiding from the kids, I just didn't want to be around anyone.
"I'm not right to return to work. You just expect ACC will sort you out for things like this. What's the difference? You're unable to work. You can come over from Australia on a ski trip and you're covered, you're put on a helicopter and not charged, but you pay your taxes in New Zealand and ACC levy, and the bloody pricks sit there and go 'no, no, no'.
"New Zealand's pretty much held together by vollies."
Pushing for change
United Fire Brigades' Association chief executive Bill Butzbach says the rules need to change.
"The volunteer firefighting force in NZ is unique in that it's undertaking a full time role, albeit on an unpaid basis", Butzbach says. "And the role is exactly the same as the full-time employees across the risk reduction, response and recovery. They are always there.
"And they only seeing the bad stuff because we get tipped out to what we purple calls. There's no balance. It's death and destruction. It's motor accidents, suicides, all sorts of horrible shit. I've experienced it myself. It's raw and goes to the core of your emotions."
UFBA raised the issue with the former ACC Minister Matt Doocey, who's also the Minister for Mental Health. It has recently made some progress on having paid firefighters covered for illnesses such as cancers, brought on by the job, but hasn't got any traction as yet with ACC cover for volunteers experiencing PTSD and other trauma-related conditions.
Butzbach says the issue, as always, comes down to cost.
"The concern for officials is how far it goes, what's the cut off point for psychological support, because there are so many volunteers. But I think that's a poor excuse and if they did some analysis, they'd find not only is it the fair and reasonable, but the benefits of keeping people in the workforce outweigh the costs. We'll keep knocking on the door."
Minister's response
Andrew Bayly was appointed as the new Minister for ACC last month.
He says he acknowledges the "immensely selfless and important contributions made by our volunteers in emergency services across New Zealand".
But, he says, "currently, there are no plans to extend ACC’s work-related cover to include volunteers".
"Any future reforms would require a complex conversation around the purpose of work-related cover, the different types of volunteering across New Zealand, and choices around funding arrangements to provide such additional cover," the Minister says.
“It is also important to note that those in volunteer roles can still access mental and other health services via the health system."
Bayly says he is currently focused on "addressing ACC’s declining performance".
Local MP Joseph Mooney, meanwhile, says he has highlighted Ottley’s concerns and the broader issue to Minister Bayley.
"My offices will continue to work with ACC to try and find a solution to Mr Ottley’s situation as it stands," Mooney says. "I wish Mr Ottley all the very best as he continues to work his way through the recovery process.”
