NEW Hunter ambulance chief Inspector Jordan Emery says his priority is to address bullying within the service, and hostility facing crews on the road.
This sounds like good news for the region's ambulance officers and paramedics, but there will be quite a few in their ranks who will take some convincing that things are going to change, especially as far as bullying is concerned.
The Newcastle Herald has reported on ambulance service bullying many times over the years.
Similar allegations have surfaced in other regions and within other emergency services agencies.
In May 2017 a NSW upper house inquiry began investigating policy responses to bullying, harassment and discrimination across five agencies; ambulance, police, fire, rural fire and SES.
The NSW parliamentary inquiry: report, transcripts, government response
The committee's July 2018 report found ambulance bullying complaints were falling, but it was still the worst service, statistically. It had "poor responses" to "a continuing and serious problem".
While the Berejiklian government did not dispute the committee's findings, its responses to the inquiry's 27 recommendations implied that everything was alright, and that the matters raised were already in hand.
More than a year down the track, there is clearly still work for the service to do if Inspector Emery recognises the top-down bullying culture identified by the upper house inquiry as one of his major targets.
Although the arrival of COVID-19 has resulted in headline stories about ambulance officers - and other frontline health workers - being spat at and abused, there is regrettably nothing new about such behaviour.
Some wrongdoers may have lost their usual restraint because of alcohol or drugs - especially ice amphetamine - but there is no excuse for aggression of any sort towards people whose working lives are dedicated to keeping others in trouble alive.
Ambulance officers and paramedics have inherently stressful jobs.
Road accidents, drug overdoses, drownings.
The joy of saving one life can too quickly evaporate if the next patient loses the battle.
It is no job for the faint-hearted, and so when ambos complain of workplace ill-treatment, they should be listened to, and their opinions and experiences valued.
Inspector Emery is to be commended for his opening honesty.
The crews he supervises will be hoping his actions live up to his sympathetic words.
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