In 2019 alone, there have been more than 400 reported incidents of occupational violence against paramedics. Many of those incidents include kicking, pushing and spitting at paramedics. To combat this issue, NSW Ambulance has launched a campaign to educate the community that aggression towards paramedics is “Never OK.”
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Alongside the “It’s Never OK” campaign, NSW Ambulance has introduced a Body Worn Camera pilot to help keep paramedics safer at work.
“There is no higher priority for me than the welfare, health and wellbeing of all staff at NSW Ambulance,” NSW Ambulance Commissioner, Dr Dominic Morgan ASM said.
“With this in mind, I am pleased to announce a new and potentially important adjunct to address occupational violence against paramedics: the Body Worn Camera Concept Trial.”
The program is being trialled over the next 12 months in three locations: Sydney Ambulance Centre in Eveleigh, Liverpool Superstation and Hamilton Station. Volunteer paramedics at these locations will receive body cameras to attach to their uniforms when on duty, which can be activated if there is any risk of danger and occupational violence becomes a threat.
“It's important that we can show to the courts the level of violence that paramedics get exposed to," Commissioner Morgan said.
For more information about the trial, including a list of frequently asked questions, visit the privacy section of the website.