Public awareness campaign begins on violence against paramedics
The Palaszczuk Government will implement a $1.35 million public awareness campaign aimed at minimising violence against paramedics following the interim report of the taskforce set up by Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Cameron Dick to address the issue.
Mr Dick received the interim report on the taskforce late on Friday, after he had asked taskforce members to give an interim report as a matter of urgency, ahead of a full report due in April.
In line with the interim report, Mr Dick said the Government is progressing key recommendations to provide additional training to paramedics in situational awareness and deescalation skills, as well as a mass media public awareness campaign.
“We need to get the message out that seriois assaults on paramedics will not be tolerated, and are subject to significant legal penalties,” Mr Dick said.
“A public awareness campaign isn’t the whole answer, but it’s certainly part of it.
“Over time we’ve seen significant changes in behaviour around issues like wearing seat belts, smoking and immunisation.
“People changed their behaviour because governments brought in legislation, increased penalties and changed workplace practices.
“But much of the impetus for change came from the community, and a significant part of that was down to increased public awareness campaigns.
“Everyone knows a nurse, a doctor, a paramedic. They’re our mothers, our brothers, our friends. This campaign will tell their stories.”
There were 170 deliberate physical attacks and 56 verbal assaults on ambulance officers in the 2014-15 financial year. This is up from the 160 physical assaults and 33 verbal assaults on ambulance officers in 2013-14 financial year.
The campaign will begin later in 2016, in conjunction with the existing “Zero Tolerance” campaign underway by the Queensland Ambulance Service in social media and on ambulances.
