Police, paramedics condemn assaults on workers after increase in regional Victoria

A senior paramedic says increased abuse and aggressive behaviour towards country police and paramedics is delaying patients receiving the help they need at the scene.

Paramedics and police officers say it's important they can do their jobs safely after recorded incidents of assaults against emergency workers rose in the 12 months to March 2025.

Country cops and paramedics are being abused on the job at dangerous rates, with emergency services warning vicious assaults on staff are significantly delaying patient care.

It comes as assaults on regional emergency service workers increased by 23 per cent in the year to March 2025 — according to the latest Crime Statistics Agency data — leaving dozens of first responders sidelined due to injury.

Between July 2023 and March 2024 there were 105 paramedics sidelined with injuries after being assaulted on call-outs, with 398 reported “near misses” that involved verbal abuse and aggressive behaviour.

Mildura based paramedic and senior team manager Brodie Thomas said the assaults were “confronting” and stayed with members for “days and weeks” afterwards.

“I’ve been physically assaulted and spat on while trying to care for someone,” he said.

“You carry that weight with you. It changes how you approach every job after that.”

Mildura paramedic Brodie Thomas advocates for safer environments for staff and patients. Picture: Ambulance Victoria

Mr Thomas — who completed a PhD exploring workplace violence in emergency healthcare — said aggression towards paramedics delayed patient care.

“We know the vast majority of the community support us and are doing the right thing, but it

only takes one moment, one person, to cause lasting harm,” he said.

“It puts everyone at risk, the patient, their loved ones, and the paramedics on scene.

“We just ask for the chance to do our jobs safely, and to go home safely too.”

Ambulance Victoria provides support services for paramedics affected by occupational violence, including access to professional counselling and a statewide peer support program.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said police and protective services officers put their lives on the line to protect the community every day.

“While their role has always involved dealing with hostile, confrontational and often dangerous people, it is completely unacceptable for anyone to be hit, kicked, spat on or sworn at while they are doing their job,” she said.

“While the vast majority of the community has the utmost respect for our officers, there is a minority who have a blatant disregard for law enforcement and aren’t afraid to engage in violent confrontations with the potential to inflict significant physical and mental injuries on our members.”

Victoria Police say it is “completely unacceptable” for emergency service workers to deal with physical or verbal assaults.

The spokeswoman said police officers were human beings and — like all emergency services workers including paramedics and firefighters — deserved to get home safely after each shift.

She said the behaviour was never acceptable, no matter where it occurred in the state.

“We recognise that many of these assaults occur as a result of broader societal issues that require a whole of community response such as excessive alcohol consumption, drug use and mental health episodes,” she said.

Police officers undergo significant training to give them the skills and knowledge to deal with dynamic and challenging situations.

“We also have a team of internal welfare and qualified mental health professionals who provide support to our employees,” she said.

Originally published as Police, paramedics condemn assaults on workers after increase in regional Victoria