St John’s Craig Garraway reveals how Alice Springs issues impact paramedics

The face of St John NT has revealed an honest insight into the issues impacting his Alice Springs crews. Read how the situation is changing.

The face of the Territory’s ambulance crews has revealed an honest insight into the issues impacting Alice Springs.

St John Ambulance NT operations manager Craig Garraway said aggression against paramedics had increased in the Central Australian town.

He said their workload had been “massive”.

“In the last few months, we’ve really seen a real spike in Alice Springs with alcohol-related injuries, aggression and incidences going on here,” he said.

St John Ambulance NT operations manager Craig Garraway said Alice Springs crews had experienced “massive” workloads and increasing aggression towards staff. Picture: Keri Megelus

“We’ve been putting an additional crew in here at the moment and we’re recruiting hard to put that third 24-hour crew on.

“(Our workload) just been growing and growing. The aggression towards our crews has grown.

“The damage to our vehicles, like smashed windows, has been considerable.”

However Mr Garraway said a heavy police presence in Alice Springs and snap alcohol restrictions had led to “very quiet” scenes in the CBD and town camps.

St John Ambulance staff in Alice Springs have welcomed the reduced workload amid a heavy police presence in the town. Picture: Liam Mendes / The Australian

“There’s obviously a big police presence here at the moment which is clearly having a huge impact on the town and all the issues that are caused by the violence,” he said.

“Police are doing an amazing job.”

Mr Garraway’s observations mirror those of NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker, who has said people were fleeing Alice Springs towards Katherine and Darwin, as well as interstate.

While he acknowledged the issues that had drawn national attention to Alice Springs may only have shifted, Mr Garraway welcomed the reprieve for his staff.

St John Ambulance NT are “working hard” to recruit more staff in Alice Springs. Picture: Liam Mendes / The Australian

“Our staff morale, our staff safety, our vehicles, and just the safety of all our people in town is paramount to us,” he said.

“That’s been a real struggle for us over the last couple of months.”

The Fyles government has promised to this week legislate new alcohol bans across the Territory.

It comes amid widespread criticism and federal pressure to make communities dry again, while NT Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has introduced a similar Bill in Canberra.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles was in Alice Springs on Friday along with her Labor caucus as they prepare to urgently reinstate alcohol bans in parliament this week. Picture: Annabel Bowles

Mr Garraway said real change would not be achieved until the root cause of alcohol-fuelled harm was solved.

“It’s about getting systems in place to try and manage the alcohol-related issues and what’s causing them,” he said.

“Why are people out so late at night, causing the damage they’re causing?

“Something’s obviously happening to make people want to go and do that.

“We need to understand all those things and try and mitigate it.”

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