They say the State Government no longer has their back if they are injured at work, despite paramedics having the back of citizens in times of crisis. 

“We are the most trusted profession, but we are also the least protected of the essential services,” said paramedic and station manager Ian Hanna.

“Our death and disability insurance protection used to be the same as police officers, but it has been slashed by 75 per cent under the new scheme.

“We want the old scheme back. Statistics show we are twice as likely to be injured as other essential services personnel.”

Health Services Union south east spokesman Mick Grayson said the premiums for the paramedics’ scheme were becoming too expensive for the government because so many paramedics were getting injured on the job.

“The cuts have been brought about because spiralling injury rates have led to increasing insurance costs,” Mr Grayson said.

“The government does not provide us with enough resources to do the job, which puts paramedics at further risk. It is a vicious cycle. 

“The new scheme has a 75 per cent reduction in the amount of money that can be paid out to a paramedic who can never work again.

“One in five paramedics will sustain a work injury. We want to see the government invest more money into resourcing us so that less paramedics are injured in the first place.” 

Until it is resolved, paramedics are protesting by writing on ambulances in liquid chalk to keep the community alerted to the issue. 

“We will continue until this is resolved,” Mr Grayson said.