1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:01,960 Speaker 1: And joining me on the line right now is the 2 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: director of Ambulance Services with Saint John and it is 3 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:07,120 Speaker 1: Andrew Thomas. 4 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 2: Good morning to you, Andrew. 5 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:10,319 Speaker 3: I'm very good morning to you, Katie. 6 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 2: How are you not too bad? Andrew? 7 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 1: I tell you what, I was pretty upset, as I 8 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: imagine you would have been even more so yesterday morning 9 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:20,480 Speaker 1: to learn that not just one paramedic had been assaulted 10 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: on the job in the last twenty four hours, but two. 11 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:25,120 Speaker 2: What exactly has gone on? 12 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, to say disappointed is probably an extreme understatement. This 13 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:34,880 Speaker 3: seems to be a regular conversation that I keep having 14 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 3: on behalf of our paramedics that you know, being the 15 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 3: victims of violence and aggression towards them from within the community. 16 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:49,239 Speaker 3: So we had, you know, previous day, we had one 17 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 3: of our paramedics, while treating and rendering aid, is being 18 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 3: physically punched and to the one of his to his 19 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 3: leg and while you know, he's okay and there was 20 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 3: no medical treatment required for that, obviously, that's distressing for 21 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 3: him and from you know, obviously from our staff to 22 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 3: see that people are actually moving towards physical violence. And 23 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:15,960 Speaker 3: then the other one we've had aggression Shade towards our 24 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 3: staff and towards the vehicles and everything while they've been 25 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 3: undertaking or trying to render aid to somebody. So again, 26 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 3: really disappointing that, you know, our staff are out there 27 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 3: trying to do the best that they can and are 28 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 3: passionate about caring for people in all sorts of locations times, 29 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:37,399 Speaker 3: and you know, when people are having a bad day 30 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 3: and they're becoming suddenly becoming a victim. 31 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:43,959 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's actually pretty disgraceful stuff. And I know that 32 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 1: you and I have spoken about this very issue on 33 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 1: other occasions, and it's really quite disappointing that it continues 34 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 1: to happen. I do want to ask both of those 35 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 1: paramedics are okay. 36 00:01:56,480 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, Look, we've obviously followed up at the time and 37 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 3: subsequently with with those paramedics. You know, obviously physically they're okay, 38 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 3: And I think you know both of them, you know, 39 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 3: like the one that was punched, I think the initial 40 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 3: conversation was he's just frustrated, you know, and and it's 41 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 3: disappointment that it's happened, and frustration that you know, as 42 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 3: I said, that it's trying to do the right thing 43 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 3: and being treating somebody and then to suddenly turn and 44 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 3: then a focus be pushed on here. So we continue 45 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,079 Speaker 3: to follow them up and they've received support through our 46 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:35,920 Speaker 3: peersport systems and psychological support as well, and we do 47 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:38,680 Speaker 3: we do that for all of our staff following any 48 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:41,959 Speaker 3: of any of the events of violent aggression towards them. 49 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 1: Andrew, how often is this type of thing happening? And 50 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: is it on the increase? 51 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:51,919 Speaker 3: Look at it's you know, we've we record all of 52 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 3: the events and the times, you know, so that we 53 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 3: can review them. This year, our numbers are around about 54 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 3: the same as last year, but you know, probably we 55 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 3: see we've seen a decrease in the amount of verbal 56 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:14,119 Speaker 3: uh reports, so people being verbally abused. And I think 57 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 3: that's really disappointing because to me, that's just demonstrating that 58 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 3: and in speaking staff, you know, they're almost sort of 59 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 3: as an element of acceptance that that's that that's happening 60 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 3: and that's not okay our staff, you know, you know, 61 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:31,360 Speaker 3: verbal assaults or you know, verbal abuse towards our staff 62 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 3: you know, does does impact on them emotionally as well. 63 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 3: And you know, but we have seen you know, the 64 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 3: numbers being constant of our physical assaults and I think 65 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 3: you know. But one of the things I would say 66 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 3: is that we've actively promoted obviously within our organization about 67 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 3: staff reporting these and that we have a zero tolerance 68 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 3: and that we will support our staff who wish to 69 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 3: take legal actions action against any individual responsible for assaulting them. 70 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 1: Well, they deserve better than that, you know, the paramedics, 71 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:08,839 Speaker 1: the ambulance stuff, they all deserve better than that. They're 72 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: out there trying to help people in the community and 73 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 1: it's just unacceptable that then they're having to calp that 74 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 1: kind of behavior. 75 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:19,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, look and look, you know unfortunately, yes, that it's 76 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 3: happening our paramedics in the Northern Territory, it's happening with 77 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 3: paramedics across Australia, and it's happening with other healthcare professionals. 78 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:28,720 Speaker 3: And I think you know that. For me, the key 79 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 3: message is, you know, there's were all in the current 80 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 3: time where everyone's feeling the uncertainty of just the situation 81 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 3: that everyone is in. At the nament is we all 82 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:40,840 Speaker 3: need to be coining to each other. We need to 83 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 3: be respectful for each other. And whether it be help 84 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:47,600 Speaker 3: you know, police, whether it be frontline our health workers, 85 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:50,919 Speaker 3: or be our paramedics. You know, there is no cut 86 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 3: cause or no situation where it is okay to either 87 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:56,720 Speaker 3: verbally or physically assault somebody else. 88 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:58,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, I one hundred percent agree with you. 89 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 1: I mean, would it help in any way or is 90 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 1: there any sort of any capacity for the punishment to 91 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:08,480 Speaker 1: be greater for those that do assault our paramedics. 92 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 3: Look, there were some changes recently in sort of the 93 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 3: last year or so that have promoted that. And as 94 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 3: I said, we know we will support our staff going 95 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 3: through pressing charges through with the police and then following 96 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:28,359 Speaker 3: through the legal system and allow that legal system to 97 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:32,480 Speaker 3: make determination. But you know, as I said, by doing that, 98 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 3: hopefully you know, we don't want to see you know, 99 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 3: people being ended up in jail. But also you know, 100 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 3: for our staff is it's about making sure that you 101 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 3: know that they're feeling protected and they're feeling that they're 102 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 3: able to do their job in a way that you know, 103 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 3: they feel safe and that they come to work wanting 104 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 3: to build to care for people and that's what they're 105 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:54,719 Speaker 3: there for. 106 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 1: Yes, spot on anything else we should be aware of 107 00:05:57,600 --> 00:05:58,479 Speaker 1: this morning, Andrew. 108 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 3: Now, I look, as I said, I just I would 109 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 3: like to down tate there and the opportunity to thank 110 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:09,719 Speaker 3: all of our paramedic staff at the moment, obviously across 111 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 3: the Northern Territory, all of our staff with Saint john 112 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:16,719 Speaker 3: and our volunteers have been doing an amazing job. And 113 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 3: obviously you know we're feeling as though that you know, 114 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 3: the workload is up at the moment, there's a lot 115 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,159 Speaker 3: of pressure going on and they're out there every day 116 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 3: doing it. So you know, I want to just express 117 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 3: my acknowledgment and thanks to all of our S John's staff. 118 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 3: And also you know, if staff are out there, well sorry, 119 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 3: if community out there and see them, take the opportunity 120 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 3: and you see them to just say thank you and 121 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:40,479 Speaker 3: that means a lot to them. 122 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:42,800 Speaker 2: Yeah. Here here, they do a phenomenal job. 123 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:45,480 Speaker 1: And like you've rightly touched on, not only all of 124 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 1: those full time staff and those that obviously work there 125 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 1: with Saint John's, but all of those volunteers as well. 126 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 1: So many different things just would not be able to 127 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 1: happen around the territory without them. 128 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 3: Yes, as I said, that an amazing God and as 129 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 3: I said, we thank them for all that they do. 130 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 3: And and they're out there rain, hail or shine in 131 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 3: all the weather and and doing it and treating people 132 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 3: and in the worst day of their lives. They're amazing. 133 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 2: Spot on well. 134 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 1: Andrew Thomas, the director of Ambulance Services, good to speak 135 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: with you this morning. Thanks so much for your time. 136 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 3: Thanks Caddie, thank you.