Safety comes first in paramedic project

NSW Ambulance have engaged Charles Sturt University in a project that aims to decrease the risk and incidence of occupational violence experienced by paramedics. The ground-breaking research will collect data from the NSW Ambulance Body Worn Camera (BWC) Project to determine if the presence and use of the cameras reduces the incidence of aggressive behaviours towards paramedics, their partner, their patient, or any other person on scene.

The project also involves Charles Sturt researchers engaging with paramedics to hear their experiences and opinions of BWCs and occupational violence. The BWC trial involved paramedics in six locations across NSW wearing the BWC and, once identifying a significant risk to someone, recording a scene. When a paramedic chooses to start recording, they tell those in the immediate vicinity the camera is recording, with the hope that this provides the opportunity for the aggressive person to deescalate their behaviour or language.