Local paramedics join protest against protection changes

Cobar paramedics Anita Hodgkinson, Shane Peate and Lara Hughes (with Livinia Cain, daughter of paramedic Rachel Cain) wore yellow vests last Wednesday in protest of the  State Government slashing their death and disability scheme. ▪ Photo contributed
Cobar paramedics Anita Hodgkinson, Shane Peate and Lara Hughes (with Livinia Cain, daughter of paramedic Rachel Cain) wore yellow vests last Wednesday in protest of the State Government slashing their death and disability scheme. ▪ Photo contributed

Cobar Paramedics wore yellow vests last Wednesday as part of a state-wide paramedic protest.

They were protesting against the State Government cutting 80 per cent of their Death and Disability protection.

NSW paramedics will now only receive about 25 per cent of the protection that is provided for NSW Police.

The NSW paramedics union, HSU, organised the protest last Wednesday.

Cobar Paramedic Anita Hodgkinson said it’s just not good enough that paramedics now have much less cover than both police and firefighters.

“I am unsure whether it was a coincidence or not but our protest of wearing yellow vests also fell on Paramedic Appreciation Day,” Ms Hodgkinson said.

“I believe it was organised to show that we are appreciated by our community but not by our government who are trying to strip us of our Death and Disability insurance.”

The nature of a paramedic’s job comes with many risks with statistics showing that one in five NSW paramedics is injured every year, twice the rate of the NSW Police Force.