For years, it was seen as just 'part of the job'. But our paramedics have had enough

Paramedic Nicola Smith has received the training package which helps ambulance officers deal with aggression and violence in the field. Picture by Karleen Minney

Ask Canberra's paramedics about the level of abuse they encounter when called to an emergency and their crestfallen, collective response is: "pretty regularly".

For a profession entrusted with saving people's lives and being the first responders to life-threatening medical emergencies, ACT paramedics now all too often find themselves in situations where they are getting abused, physically intimidated or at worst, assaulted.