The NSW Government will spend $48 million to provide an enhanced insurance scheme with a minimum of five years’ income protection for on duty claims, and a specialised health program for NSW Ambulance Service paramedics,

Member for Goulburn Pru Goward said the funding would ensure the state’s front line health providers can get the support they need to stay healthy and are supported to get back to work if they are injured.

“Our paramedics provide an invaluable service to the community and work tirelessly to help keep us safe and healthy,” Ms Goward said.

“It is important that we do everything we can to help them stay safe and healthy too. They work in difficult and dangerous circumstances and need appropriate support if they are injured at work.”

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the reforms would provide more than just income protection.

“In addition, our new wellbeing program will further help prevent mental and physical injuries and support paramedics to return to work,” Ms Berejiklian said.

The $48 million investment includes:

A $30 million health and wellbeing program which will include a dedicated psychologist, physiotherapist, occupational physician and a Paramedic Safety Champion who will act to ensure paramedics safe and well;

Increased income protection for paramedics injured at work to at least five years.

NSW Ambulance staff will vote on the proposal in coming weeks.

The funding comes after paramedics wrote slogans on ambulances protesting changes to their Death and Disability Scheme.

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

“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.”​