Paramedics in Victoria have a higher rate of work-related injuries than other Australian workers, new research shows.
About one-third of the state's paramedics have suffered injuries on the job and psychological issues are the main reason why they have taken time off.
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A recent study by Monash University found 7591 paramedic injuries were reported in a six-year period, 28 per cent of which led to work absences.
Manual handling, followed by psychological stressors, were the leading mechanisms of injury, the paper published in the journal Prehospital Emergency Care said.
Ambulance Victoria recently delivered a three-year Mental Health Action Plan and continues to provide assistance to paramedics and their immediate family members, with peer support, pastoral care and counselling services available 24-hours a day.
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A Victorian government spokeswoman said the safety of paramedics was a top priority.
"The Victorian government takes the health and well-being of all Ambulance Victoria employees extremely seriously and their safety is our top priority," she said.
"The work paramedics do can expose them to potential inquiry, stressful and traumatic events and we continue to invest in innovative programs to prevent injuries while also supporting the mental health and wellbeing of paramedics."
Former workplace safety minister Ingrid Stitt said ensuring a safe work environment for every Victorian was paramount.
"Unfortunately through some of the work that they (paramedics) do, they're exposed to some pretty traumatic events and I know that the management at Ambulance Victoria are very focused on making sure that there's programs in place to support our paramedics both in terms of physical prevention of injury, but also preventing mental injury from occurring," she told reporters on Friday.
It comes as Victoria's healthcare system continues to buckle under pressure as ambulance wait times and hospital demand soar.
About 65 per cent of critical ambulance dispatches are attended within the first 15 minutes, compared to 73 per cent in 2014, government data shows.
Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority chief executive Marty Smyth resigned in late 2021.
The following year, an independent investigation by the Inspector-General for Emergency Management, Tony Pearce, found 33 people died after delays in the state's embattled triple-zero system.
Last year, Premier Daniel Andrews proposed a $26 million package to add 40 mobile intensive care paramedics across the state, increasing the total to 640.