On finding out that paramedic Sandra Tozer was driving the ambulance, a patient with a broken leg jumped out and refused to get back in until a man drove. It's an extreme example, but paramedics like Sandra put up with sexism every day.
Female paramedics often face suggestive comments, sexualised jokes and gender stereotyping in the workplace. Ambulance Victoria has so far implemented more than 77 per cent of the recommendations, to a moderate, significant or full extent.
"It was impressive for him to jump out with a broken leg," Ms Tozer said, recalling the incident that took place more than 30 years ago."Some of the bias we came across was, 'They let nurses drive the ambulance'," the veteran paramedic said. "Suggestive comments, sexualised jokes, gender stereotyping, those things have most definitely increased in frequency."
"Women were less likely than men to say they felt safe, and feelings of safety were comparatively low amongst participants who identify as LGBTIQ+, have a disability and/or are from a racial minority, as well as those working in male-dominated teams," the report said.Bronwyn Lambert is the first and only qualified female Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance paramedic in the Loddon Mallee area of Victoria.
"If I was working with another female paramedic we would all the time get the comment, 'Oh, two females working together?' or 'Oh, two girls, that's weird. What are you going to do, who is going to lift me up, who is going to drive the ambulance?'," she said.So far, 34 recommendations have been implemented, either completely or to a moderate extent, while nine are still in progress.
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