Pepper spray and body-worn cameras are being considered for paramedics in a crime-troubled territory following a string of attacks.
The Northern Territory government has made the suggestion for St John Ambulance officers after a number of incidents including a disturbing Alice Springs attack.
On September 11, six paramedics had to barricade themselves inside a house after being attacked by people at the scene.
They were only able to deliver their patient to Alice Springs hospital after police arrived.
According to St John, paramedics in Central Australia have faced 88 instances of serious violence since January, while record rates of assault have occurred in Darwin.
Attacks on paramedics have been rising across Australia in recent years.
In April 2023 NSW paramedic Steven Tougher, 29, was fatally stabbed 55 times while on a work break in the restaurant car park in Sydney, sparking calls for tougher measures to protect frontline staff.
St John NT chief executive Abigail Trewin said on Friday the organisation continued to consider a range of measures to better protect paramedics from occupational violence.
"Pepper spray and body-worn cameras remain under consideration, and no decision has been made to introduce either measure," she said in a statement.
"Our priority is ensuring our people have the systems, training and protections they need to work, while continuing to work with government, police and communities to address occupational violence more broadly."
St John NT has introduced a policy encouraging staff to withdraw when they feel unsafe and has rolled out preventative action, de-escalation and cultural safety training.
NT minister Josh Burgoyne said the territory government was looking at ways to better support and protect St John paramedics and consideration of pepper spray was part of that.
