Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I mentioned a little bit earlier this morning that the
Northern Territory Police are continuing to seek information regarding an
assault that occurred between midnight and the early hours of
Thursday last week in Alice Springs. Now, this horrendous assault
saw a situation where one of our emergency service workers,
(00:20):
a paramedic, as I understand it, was approached by an
unknown man.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
As she exited her vehicle.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
The offender allegedly kicked her, causing injuries to her face. Now,
despite the assault, the victim was able to break free
and seek medical treatment.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
At the hospital.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
The director of MT Ambulance Services here in the Northern Territory,
Andrew Thomas, joins me on the line right now. Good
morning to you, Andrew.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Good morning Catie.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Now, look, this assault last week was nothing short of horrific.
First off, how is that paramedic going, yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Look, yeah, as you said, it's a horrendous event. And
where else? And unfortunately we're seeing too many of these
events and assaults on our paramedics. I went down to
l Springs late last week and I caught up with
the officer involved down there and she was in hospital
overnight on the night of the incident. And she's very shaken.
(01:23):
She's going to be off work for quite some time.
She's got some serious injuries that are going to need
time for healing. And that's just the physical ones, let alone,
uh you know, the psychological impact that had on her.
But she's you know, she's a very strong person and
she's a very valuable member of our team and you know,
(01:44):
the Elie Springs team particularly, but then the widest and
John family is that are very much wrapping themselves around
her with support and so we're you know, come following
up with that, both her and the wider widest half involved.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Andrew.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
I don't want to breach her privacy in any way,
shape or form, but are you able to provide any
detail in terms of the injuries that she has sustained?
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Ah, Look, she's got she's got you fractures, and she's
got you know, you know, some serious sort of facial
injuries that she's you know, obviously dealing with. And I
think you know that the you know, with such a
horrendous assault, you know, unprovoked by a person who you know,
(02:34):
she'd taken a work vehicle home because she'd been at
shift and was going to be available on call from
home to you know, support the Alice Springs staff over
that night, you know, obviously just for that all to
happen as she got out, and you know, she was
fortunate that she had her radio on, so she her
jurist button on the radio and that puts her opens
(02:55):
up the mic for fifteen seconds and that you know,
obviously staff across the territory that night sort of heard
all of the incident going on and her being attacked
because obviously the microphone was over there. But she you know,
managed to fight the person off and eventually was able
to get in the car and get herself through the
hospital for safety and then obviously for the following up treatment.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Oh my god, So Andy, she's had the foresight to turn.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
That radio on so that so that.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Somebody could help her and literally all of her work
colleagues have heard then that horrendous assault happening.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Yeah. So as part of our protection or the way
to support staff is all of our radios have a
jurist feature, which means that they are, you know, under
attack or anything, they can hit the button and that
will actually means that they can get messages across and
for support. And we have a whole process that flows
(03:55):
behind that. So, you know, unfortunately, as I said, we've
seen over one hundred and forty serious physical and sexual
assaults on our staff across the territory in the last
four months. And it's just, you know, these are just
and that these are not you know what I'd probably
probably say the lower level sort of things, which is
threats and accusations and stuff. So it's it's just continuing.
(04:21):
You know, We're we're trying to do everything we can.
We've been getting the message out long and hard about
giving ambos both to treat and that sort of stuff,
and then unfortunately, we continue to see these things happening
against ambulance and other frontline workers.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
You know, I thank goodness though that she did have
that training and that she was able to do all
of those things and you know, able to to get
the help needed. Look, I'm I'm absolutely mind blown by
what happened to her for all the wrong reasons. I
cannot even begin to imagine what it would be like
(04:58):
to go to work, you know, are out there helping people,
then you've gone home and you're set upon in such
a violent and horrendous way.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
It blows my mind.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
I mean, I know that the Northern Territory government, the
new incoming government, have announced a number of changes when
it comes to those who do assault frontline workers and
the minimum mandatory sentencing.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Do you think that's going.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
To help, look Cartie, I don't know, you know, I mean,
as I said, for the five years that I've been
up here, we've been we've had a campaign going around
the safety of our staff. We've had there's been changes
to laws. Unfortunately, it feels like at times the messages
and getting to the right people. And we know that,
(05:44):
you know, we do know that emotions run high, particularly
when people are either in pain or agitated or you know,
when there's a medical emergency going on. You know, we
know that these things sort of happen, and particularly the
number of the people that we go to that may
be affected by drugs or alcohol and it may impair
their you know, their decision making. But that's still no
(06:05):
excuse and unfortunately, you know, we need to we need
support from the public, We need support from you know,
people to make right choices and obviously allow our staff
to do their job and do it without fear for themselves.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Yeah, well mate, speaking of doing their jobs, it looks
as though it's been a busy weekend as always. I know,
on Friday in Catherine, a twenty one year old male
was struck by a vehicle.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Yeah, unfortunately, you know, late in the evening there, someone's
been unfortunately hit by a vehicle and our crews attended
and they've treated the person and they've trut and spilt
them through the Cathern Hospital, you know, with sort of
some serious injuries, but you know they're stable and I'm
sure that the person will mak a good recovery there
from that incident there in Catherine.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
On Saturday.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Then also in Catherine, an eighteen year old male a
lot of motorbike collided with a car.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
Yeah, and unfortunately we know that, you know obviously, you
know for our motorbike riders out there, and you know,
there is a less protection on a motorbike when they're
coming off either at speed or they're colliding with objects.
And you know, the person there was again taken through
the hospital stable condition, and you know they're wearing a helmet,
which is great and really good to see that. The
(07:21):
message around protective gear is definitely sort of getting out.
They're for our motorbike riders. To make sure that they
are having the right gear to protect them and yeah,
hopefully who should be you know that sort of gear
is protecting people from more serious injuries.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Yeah, well that is good.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
It is good to hear that people are doing that.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Hey.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
On at about six thirty on Saturday, a ten year
old boy lost control of his pushbike. He was traveling
down hill by the look of it, and became stuck
in a fence.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Yeah, sort of a bit of an interesting one there,
I think from what I've from what I've read is
I think that you know, either the butt breaks failed
or but he's come down there and he's hit a
fence and then being stuck in the fence. And so
the fire Service responded with our paramedics and they've treated
him while being waiting for the fire Service to extricate
(08:15):
him from the fence. So he did sustain some head
injuries unfortunately, didn't have a helmet on I believe, and
was transported through the Royal Dahen Hospital and we hope
he obviously makes a full recovery.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Yeah, hopefully he's going to be okay.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Hey. On Sunday as well, in Karama, about four o'clock
in the morning, a twenty seven year old was treated
at the scene for minor injuries after his vehicle collided
with a light pole.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Yeah, so that vehicle there obviously hit a light pole,
and the crews there got there and fortunately, I think,
you know, seat belts and some of the vehicle protections
quitment systems obviously prevented her their injury. So just sort
of some minor injuries there. But you know, obviously, you know,
for young males across the territory, a number of incidents
(09:03):
that we went to over the weekend and keeping our
amazing cruise busy as always.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Well, Andrew Thomas, it's always good to speak with you.
I really appreciate your time this morning. Thank you very
much for having a chat with us. And please pass
on our will wishes to the paramedic that was assaulted
in Alice Springs last week. I know that, you know,
you guys are having to deal with this kind of
terrible behavior way more often than you should be. But
(09:29):
to hear some of those details of what she's then
had to deal with, yeah, look, I really hope that
she's okay.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
Yeah, look, I'll definitely pass on those well wishes and
you know, I will say that the support that you
know our staff have received and the comments you know
does make and make it realize that you know, obviously
they are well supported from the public across the Northern Territory,
so definitely pass them on.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Thank you, Katie, thank you, Thanks Mate. Always good to
catch up with you. I appreciate it.
I mentioned a little bit earlier this morning that the
Northern Territory Police are continuing to seek information regarding an
assault that occurred between midnight and the early hours of
Thursday last week in Alice Springs. Now, this horrendous assault
saw a situation where one of our emergency service workers,
(00:20):
a paramedic, as I understand it, was approached by an
unknown man.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
As she exited her vehicle.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
The offender allegedly kicked her, causing injuries to her face. Now,
despite the assault, the victim was able to break free
and seek medical treatment.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
At the hospital.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
The director of MT Ambulance Services here in the Northern Territory,
Andrew Thomas, joins me on the line right now. Good
morning to you, Andrew.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Good morning Catie.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Now, look, this assault last week was nothing short of horrific.
First off, how is that paramedic going, yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Look, yeah, as you said, it's a horrendous event. And
where else? And unfortunately we're seeing too many of these
events and assaults on our paramedics. I went down to
l Springs late last week and I caught up with
the officer involved down there and she was in hospital
overnight on the night of the incident. And she's very shaken.
(01:23):
She's going to be off work for quite some time.
She's got some serious injuries that are going to need
time for healing. And that's just the physical ones, let alone,
uh you know, the psychological impact that had on her.
But she's you know, she's a very strong person and
she's a very valuable member of our team and you know,
(01:44):
the Elie Springs team particularly, but then the widest and
John family is that are very much wrapping themselves around
her with support and so we're you know, come following
up with that, both her and the wider widest half involved.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Andrew.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
I don't want to breach her privacy in any way,
shape or form, but are you able to provide any
detail in terms of the injuries that she has sustained?
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Ah, Look, she's got she's got you fractures, and she's
got you know, you know, some serious sort of facial
injuries that she's you know, obviously dealing with. And I
think you know that the you know, with such a
horrendous assault, you know, unprovoked by a person who you know,
(02:34):
she'd taken a work vehicle home because she'd been at
shift and was going to be available on call from
home to you know, support the Alice Springs staff over
that night, you know, obviously just for that all to
happen as she got out, and you know, she was
fortunate that she had her radio on, so she her
jurist button on the radio and that puts her opens
(02:55):
up the mic for fifteen seconds and that you know,
obviously staff across the territory that night sort of heard
all of the incident going on and her being attacked
because obviously the microphone was over there. But she you know,
managed to fight the person off and eventually was able
to get in the car and get herself through the
hospital for safety and then obviously for the following up treatment.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Oh my god, So Andy, she's had the foresight to turn.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
That radio on so that so that.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Somebody could help her and literally all of her work
colleagues have heard then that horrendous assault happening.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Yeah. So as part of our protection or the way
to support staff is all of our radios have a
jurist feature, which means that they are, you know, under
attack or anything, they can hit the button and that
will actually means that they can get messages across and
for support. And we have a whole process that flows
(03:55):
behind that. So, you know, unfortunately, as I said, we've
seen over one hundred and forty serious physical and sexual
assaults on our staff across the territory in the last
four months. And it's just, you know, these are just
and that these are not you know what I'd probably
probably say the lower level sort of things, which is
threats and accusations and stuff. So it's it's just continuing.
(04:21):
You know, We're we're trying to do everything we can.
We've been getting the message out long and hard about
giving ambos both to treat and that sort of stuff,
and then unfortunately, we continue to see these things happening
against ambulance and other frontline workers.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
You know, I thank goodness though that she did have
that training and that she was able to do all
of those things and you know, able to to get
the help needed. Look, I'm I'm absolutely mind blown by
what happened to her for all the wrong reasons. I
cannot even begin to imagine what it would be like
(04:58):
to go to work, you know, are out there helping people,
then you've gone home and you're set upon in such
a violent and horrendous way.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
It blows my mind.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
I mean, I know that the Northern Territory government, the
new incoming government, have announced a number of changes when
it comes to those who do assault frontline workers and
the minimum mandatory sentencing.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Do you think that's going.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
To help, look Cartie, I don't know, you know, I mean,
as I said, for the five years that I've been
up here, we've been we've had a campaign going around
the safety of our staff. We've had there's been changes
to laws. Unfortunately, it feels like at times the messages
and getting to the right people. And we know that,
(05:44):
you know, we do know that emotions run high, particularly
when people are either in pain or agitated or you know,
when there's a medical emergency going on. You know, we
know that these things sort of happen, and particularly the
number of the people that we go to that may
be affected by drugs or alcohol and it may impair
their you know, their decision making. But that's still no
(06:05):
excuse and unfortunately, you know, we need to we need
support from the public, We need support from you know,
people to make right choices and obviously allow our staff
to do their job and do it without fear for themselves.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Yeah, well mate, speaking of doing their jobs, it looks
as though it's been a busy weekend as always. I know,
on Friday in Catherine, a twenty one year old male
was struck by a vehicle.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Yeah, unfortunately, you know, late in the evening there, someone's
been unfortunately hit by a vehicle and our crews attended
and they've treated the person and they've trut and spilt
them through the Cathern Hospital, you know, with sort of
some serious injuries, but you know they're stable and I'm
sure that the person will mak a good recovery there
from that incident there in Catherine.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
On Saturday.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Then also in Catherine, an eighteen year old male a
lot of motorbike collided with a car.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
Yeah, and unfortunately we know that, you know obviously, you
know for our motorbike riders out there, and you know,
there is a less protection on a motorbike when they're
coming off either at speed or they're colliding with objects.
And you know, the person there was again taken through
the hospital stable condition, and you know they're wearing a helmet,
which is great and really good to see that. The
(07:21):
message around protective gear is definitely sort of getting out.
They're for our motorbike riders. To make sure that they
are having the right gear to protect them and yeah,
hopefully who should be you know that sort of gear
is protecting people from more serious injuries.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Yeah, well that is good.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
It is good to hear that people are doing that.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Hey.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
On at about six thirty on Saturday, a ten year
old boy lost control of his pushbike. He was traveling
down hill by the look of it, and became stuck
in a fence.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Yeah, sort of a bit of an interesting one there,
I think from what I've from what I've read is
I think that you know, either the butt breaks failed
or but he's come down there and he's hit a
fence and then being stuck in the fence. And so
the fire Service responded with our paramedics and they've treated
him while being waiting for the fire Service to extricate
(08:15):
him from the fence. So he did sustain some head
injuries unfortunately, didn't have a helmet on I believe, and
was transported through the Royal Dahen Hospital and we hope
he obviously makes a full recovery.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Yeah, hopefully he's going to be okay.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Hey. On Sunday as well, in Karama, about four o'clock
in the morning, a twenty seven year old was treated
at the scene for minor injuries after his vehicle collided
with a light pole.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Yeah, so that vehicle there obviously hit a light pole,
and the crews there got there and fortunately, I think,
you know, seat belts and some of the vehicle protections
quitment systems obviously prevented her their injury. So just sort
of some minor injuries there. But you know, obviously, you know,
for young males across the territory, a number of incidents
(09:03):
that we went to over the weekend and keeping our
amazing cruise busy as always.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Well, Andrew Thomas, it's always good to speak with you.
I really appreciate your time this morning. Thank you very
much for having a chat with us. And please pass
on our will wishes to the paramedic that was assaulted
in Alice Springs last week. I know that, you know,
you guys are having to deal with this kind of
terrible behavior way more often than you should be. But
(09:29):
to hear some of those details of what she's then
had to deal with, yeah, look, I really hope that
she's okay.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
Yeah, look, I'll definitely pass on those well wishes and
you know, I will say that the support that you
know our staff have received and the comments you know
does make and make it realize that you know, obviously
they are well supported from the public across the Northern Territory,
so definitely pass them on.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Thank you, Katie, thank you, Thanks Mate. Always good to
catch up with you. I appreciate it.
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