After a year of campaigning, local paramedics are thrilled to see a $48 million boost to paramedic injury protection from the NSW Government, including around $18 million in injury prevention funding.
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“Today’s a significant win for paramedics. Not only for paramedics, but for paramedics’ families, that we now have some protection restored,” Inverell paramedic and Health Services Union vice president Clint McSpedden said.
The campaign began when the state’s injury protection scheme was cut back to only two years’ financial cover for seriously injured paramedics who can no longer work.
“We’re working in unstable environments, unpredictable environments. We don’t know what we’re going into,” Mr McSpedden said.
“There’s no other profession that I know that climbs into a car accident, rather than climb out of it. Who does that?”
Paramedics will now vote on a scheme which will include at least five years of income protection in the case of an injury which leaves them unable to work.
“No paramedic in NSW wants to use any of this cover, because no one wants to get injured,” Mr McSpedden said, but added “Trapeze artists don’t work without a net.”
Mr McSpedden noted that ambulance workers were regularly confronted with violence head on, and in country areas, often had limited support.
“Some towns do not even have police on duty. So when it does turn bad, police could be up to 40 minutes away, or longer,” he said.
“Even in Inverell here, police may not always be readily available because they’re overstretched.”
The injury prevention funding will go towards pneumatic lifting equipment, specialist psychological support and physiotherapy.
Mr McSpedden said the safety measures were “absolutely welcomed”, and should see the high insurance premiums which spurred on the initial cuts decrease.
“This has never been about a money grab from paramedics. This has been about making sure we’ve got a safe workplace,” he said.
Mr McSpedden thanked the Inverell community for their unwavering support of the initiative, which he described as “overwhelming”. He was also grateful to member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall for his ongoing commitment.
Mr Marshall said that it was a joint effort. He said a ride along with Inverell paramedics last September had given him an understanding of the risks they faced each day as first responders to emergencies.
“I saw the stresses that these front-line health workers go through every day. Whether it’s picking up heavy patients, working around car accidents, or dealing with people under the influence, paramedics face many risks in their selfless pursuit to keep us healthy,” he said.
“Today’s announcement will help ensure our nation’s most trusted professionals feel safe when they’re helping protect and save our lives every day.”