Aussie paramedics to trial body cameras to prevent attacks

Paramedics in Victoria will be the first in Australia to wear body cameras to reduce the "unacceptable high levels" of violence they face on the job.

Paramedics in Melbourne's western suburbs and CBD will be the first to take part in the trial, which mimics a similar successful trial undertaken by Victoria Police in 2016.

Jill Hennessy, Victoria's minister for Health and Ambulance Services, said that there were 13 reported incidents of violence committed against paramedics every day in Victoria.

"We've had more than 5,000 emergency cases where paramedics were exposed to violence and aggression last year," Hennessy said in comments published by Fairfax Media on Monday.

"It's about time that we started upping our arsenal in order to hold people accountable for that."

Hennessy said that in addition to helping identify perpetrators and help prosecute those responsible for the attacks, the cameras would also act as a deterrent.

"An assault is an assault, irrespective of whether or not it's on a paramedic or a general member of the public," she said.

"Often we've found that we haven't been in the position to have the evidence to be able to pursue people that have been aggressive and have attacked people."

Hennessy said that paramedics were also working closely with Victoria Police when called out to locations where there had previously been attacks.

"The focus of our paramedics has always been the healthcare of the people at the scene, it hasn't necessarily been their own safety and wellbeing,"

"The health and wellbeing of our paramedics should not come at the expense of people that require healthcare if they are attacking our hardworking emergency services."

Tony Walker, the CEO of Ambulance Victoria, said it was a sad indictment on the community that such a trial was needed.

"Our paramedics are not punching bags. People come to work every day to do their jobs," Walker said. Endit