1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:04,519 Speaker 1: Well, it's always a busy evening for our frontline services, 2 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: whether it's our territory police or our paramedics. And joining 3 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:10,800 Speaker 1: me on the line right now is the Saint John 4 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 1: Northern Regional Manager Andrew Everingham. Good morning to you, Andrew. 5 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 2: Morning Katie. How are you? 6 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 1: Yeah, not too bad now, Andrew, I understand unfortunately overnight 7 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: paramedic assaulted. 8 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 2: Yeah. Look, this is another very frustrating situation, an incident. 9 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 2: One of our paramedics was attending to a patient in 10 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:33,879 Speaker 2: mold And last night when he was struck to the 11 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 2: chest by the patient. Thankfully, the paramedics were able to 12 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:39,160 Speaker 2: flee the same but while they were doing so, they're 13 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 2: actually pelted with rocks and projectiles by the mail also, 14 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:48,839 Speaker 2: so thankfully our paramedics are okay, and also our vehicle 15 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 2: hasn't the same too much stamage. But this is off 16 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 2: the back of a recent incident a couple of weeks 17 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 2: ago in Catherine where one of the vehicles was actually 18 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 2: smashed with another projectile rock and that vehicle has been 19 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 2: taken off nine for a number of weeks. So it 20 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 2: looked really frustrating and just appinting. 21 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:07,680 Speaker 1: Into that absolutely and we've caught up with Craig Garaway 22 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 1: about that other incident a few weeks back. It was 23 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: disappointing to hear that one, but then the fact that 24 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 1: somebody's actually struck a paramedic. Was that with their fists 25 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 1: or was it with an object? 26 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, allegially it was with a fish. So he's 27 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 2: punched the male and male paramedic that thankfully he was 28 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 2: able to retreat and both the crew members were a 29 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 2: treat and get out of there without further damage. But 30 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 2: this is really, you know, really frustrating and really sense 31 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:40,440 Speaker 2: of violence. We're up to close to thirty physical attacks 32 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:43,959 Speaker 2: against our paramedics and patient transport offices this year today, 33 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 2: which is just you know, obviously really scary for everyone involved. 34 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 2: And attacks from our staff and property, you know, have 35 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 2: the potential to limit our staff's access to do their job, 36 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 2: which is providing life saving treatment to members of our community. 37 00:01:57,760 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 2: They come to work every day to care for the 38 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 2: community and just like any other job and people doing 39 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 2: their job, they have the right to do this without 40 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 2: fear of being attacked. 41 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely they do. It's disgraceful that anybody would do this. 42 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: Now I'm glad to hear that those paramedics are Okay, 43 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 1: talk me through the damage that has been done to 44 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 1: the vehicle and whether that's going to mean that it's offline. 45 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:21,959 Speaker 2: It looks like this incident that we haven't got any 46 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 2: mage of damage to the vehicle thankfully, so we're able 47 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 2: to keep that, you know, and that emerges the ambulance 48 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 2: on the road. But the incident that happening Kafa a 49 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 2: number of weeks ago, it's still off line, it's my understanding, 50 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:37,079 Speaker 2: and obviously we've got a finite number of resources. So 51 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:40,400 Speaker 2: this has the potential obviously to impact our service delivery 52 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 2: for the community. And we saw back in July another 53 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 2: emence was taken off the road in our Springs flowing 54 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 2: a similar concident. 55 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, I just think it's really ordinary behavior, and that's 56 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:54,639 Speaker 1: putting it nicely. It's terrible behavior really to have a go, 57 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:58,839 Speaker 1: particularly physically at our paramedics, like you said, when they're 58 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: out there trying to help people, and then when they're 59 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 1: in a situation where they're fleeing and people are throwing rocks. 60 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 1: It's just not good enough. 61 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 2: Really, isn't. And we'll look, we're at a bit of 62 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 2: a loss, you know. Some years ago we put together 63 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 2: an occupation of working to try to look at any 64 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 2: measures we could put in place to protect her, to 65 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 2: protect our staff from occupational bonds. We saw some of 66 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 2: the worst data on record of the number of assaults 67 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 2: and physical abuse against our staff, and unfortunately, that is 68 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:29,080 Speaker 2: a trend that has seemed to continue over the last 69 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:31,800 Speaker 2: few years. It's growing and it's growing. It's not just 70 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 2: the territory problem, unfortunately, is a national problem. But you know, 71 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 2: we are just at a loss about trying to appeal 72 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 2: to the community to let our paramedics give them space, 73 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:45,040 Speaker 2: let them do the job that they're therefore, which is 74 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 2: to literally care for the community that's being injured, the vulnerable. 75 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 2: And it's just it's senseless and just so disappointing. 76 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, it really is. Now I'm assuming that police are 77 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 1: investigating the incident that took place overnight. 78 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, so the matter has been reported to police and 79 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 2: will await the outcome. Yeah. 80 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 1: Look, like I said, I just think it's really terrible 81 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: when you see people conducting themselves in this way towards 82 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 1: those that are actually trying to help them within the community. 83 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: It's quite unbelievable to me. And then the fact that 84 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 1: you know, We've already got a vehicle that's offline from 85 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 1: an incident in Catherine, and then you've got that situation 86 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 1: overnight where people are throwing rocks at our paramedics. I mean, 87 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:26,159 Speaker 1: do you think that there are changes that need to 88 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:29,159 Speaker 1: come into play, Andrew, or is it really just you know, 89 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:31,920 Speaker 1: the minority that are doing the wrong thing here? 90 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, and it is. It's definitely the minority. And you know, 91 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 2: we have an amazing community, a territories terrific and the 92 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 2: majority of people are doing the right thing. We would 93 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 2: just appeal to people if you are understand We understand 94 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 2: that they can these types of emergency situations. People can 95 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 2: have a lot of anxiety. It's very emotive. But if 96 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 2: you do see someone your family member, you may are 97 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:56,920 Speaker 2: passed by. Given the paramedics brief when they are trying 98 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 2: to help, just remind them, you know, tell them to 99 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 2: move back some space and tell me doing the wrong 100 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 2: things because you're right, it is the majority, oh sorry, 101 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 2: the minority, Yeah, and the majority of territory and are 102 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 2: doing the right thing now. 103 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: Just to confirm, so that incident overnight was in Molden. 104 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:12,159 Speaker 1: What time did it happen? 105 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 2: About approximately nine point thirty pm. 106 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:20,679 Speaker 1: Yeah, goodness me now, just very quickly, Andrew, I understand 107 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: or I am seeing that it's been reported in the 108 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: paper online that a man collided with a pig this 109 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 1: morning or overnight as well, out in the rural area 110 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: in his vehicle. 111 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 2: Yeah. Look, that's a very unusual case. Obviously I don't 112 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 2: have all the details in front of me at the moment. Yeah, look, 113 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 2: a very strange incident and something that we don't often 114 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 2: go to. But obviously in the rural area, you know, 115 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 2: these types of accidents can happen, and we just hope 116 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:52,359 Speaker 2: that the patient sustained minor injuries. But it looks at 117 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:54,599 Speaker 2: it and they should make a quick recovery. 118 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, let's hope, so we'll makee all the best. 119 00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 2: To you. 120 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:00,480 Speaker 1: Please let your staff know that you know, the community, 121 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 1: the wider community definitely supports them and the wonderful work 122 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: that they do. I find it so disappointing every time 123 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: that I hear that, you know, somebody behaves in this 124 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:13,159 Speaker 1: way towards our paramedics. But mate, thank you guys for 125 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:14,599 Speaker 1: the work that you do and the way that you 126 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 1: care for territorians. 127 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,040 Speaker 2: No worries. Thanks so much for your work Catie, thank you. 128 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:22,960 Speaker 1: Thank you. That is Saint John's Northern regional manager Andrew 129 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 1: Everingham there, and I tell you what, it is disgraceful 130 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 1: every time we hear about an incident like this, particularly 131 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 1: when you've got those paramedics scene, one of them allegedly struck, 132 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:34,359 Speaker 1: and then as they're leaving the scene having rocks thrown 133 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:35,680 Speaker 1: at them. It's disgraceful.