Ambulance Victoria is pleading with the public to treat paramedics with respect after a reported increase in violent incidents against ambos over the Christmas period.
Amid a long-term rise in assaults against emergency services workers, Ambulance Victoria said the recent violence against their paramedics had been particularly frequent and confronting.
“It’s the worst I’ve ever seen it in 30 years of emergency work,” Ambulance Victoria regional director of operations Vanessa Gorman told media on Tuesday.
“And it’s probably worse in regards to the severity of what’s occurring. I don’t think there’s one of us standing in front of you today that has not been assaulted.”
Vanessa Gorman says paramedics are subject to increasing levels of violence. (ABC News)
In a three-day window over Christmas there were 10 “very serious offences” committed against paramedics that had prompted Ambulance Victoria to speak out, she said.
These incidents included a female paramedic being touched multiple times inappropriately, paramedics being punched in the chest, spat on and even having a stethoscope used against them as a weapon.
Also paramedics had to abandon an ambulance while a patient caused damage to its interior, she said.
“Enough is enough. This is unacceptable and we will not tolerate it,” Ms Gorman said.
“Please, in the community, treat our paramedics with respect, kindness and grace, not only in this period but through 2026 and beyond.
“It is never OK to assault, verbally or physically, an emergency services worker. We’re pleading for your help to protect our paramedics this season.”
The recent assaults have frustrated Ambulance Victoria against a backdrop of increasing risk for their staff. (ABC News: Seraphine Charpentier Andre)
Ambulance Victoria’s Andrew Burns said it was generally understood violent incidents increased against emergency services personnel over the festive period.
He said it was concerning to see a “consistent trend in increasing these patterns of occupational violence”.
“Obviously not everyone is enjoying time with their family. It is a time when we do see deterioration in behaviour. We see an escalation in risk-taking behaviour, alcohol consumption and illicit drug use,” he said.
Ambulance Victoria chief executive Jordan Emery said the violence was not being perpetrated solely by patients.
“Far too often, alcohol is a factor. And far too often the violence is the result of bystanders or family members who are interfering with the care those paramedics are trying to provide,” he said.
One of the paramedics reportedly assaulted, Luke Harrington, described how a man cornered him against his ambulance just before his shift ended at midnight in Melbourne’s east on December 22.
He was threatened and spat on before the man began smashing the ambulance window and attempted to jump on the vehicle and block its exit.
Paramedic Luke Harrington was threatened by a man and spat on while on the job in the lead up to Christmas. (ABC News)
Mr Harrington, who also dealt with a similar incident 18 months ago, said the job now required a constant state of “hypervigilance”.
“[You’re] constantly wondering if there’s a stranger or a patient that could escalate in that moment,” he said.
“It adds an element of pressure to an already stressful job and vulnerability as well.
“We don’t have security. We don’t have protective equipment, and until the police get there it’s really just a matter of de-escalating and luck.”