• Charles Sturt University is engaged in collaborative research with NSW Ambulance to evaluate the practicality and benefits of introducing stab-resistant body armour (SRBA) into paramedic work practices
• The research will assess paramedics’ perceptions of SRBA and its impact on their professional roles, changes in risk-taking behaviour, patient rapport and their overall sense of safety
• The research has the potential to provide insights that will inform decision-making not only within NSW Ambulance but across paramedic services nationwide

Charles Sturt University is leading a new research project to assess the effectiveness and impact of stab-resistant body armour (SRBA) for paramedics, with the goal of enhancing workplace safety for frontline emergency responders.

Associate Professor in Paramedicine Sonja Maria in the Charles Sturt School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences is leading the project, in collaboration with NSW Ambulance, to conduct a thorough trial to evaluate the practicality and benefits of introducing SRBA into paramedic operations.

The project began in 2024 in response to growing concerns about paramedic safety in increasingly unpredictable and sometimes dangerous environments.

Professor Maria said the research will provide valuable evidence to inform decision-making around the potential implementation of SRBA within paramedic services.

“The research takes on added significance following the tragic death of paramedic Steven Tougher, who was killed in a stabbing incident while on duty in 2023,” Professor Maria said.

“This heartbreaking event has highlighted the urgent need for protective measures to safeguard paramedics in the field.

“This research is an important step in ensuring that paramedics have the necessary protection to carry out their lifesaving work and underscores the University’s commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of paramedics who work in unpredictable and often volatile environments.

“We’re examining not only how effective the body armour is in protecting paramedics but also how it affects their ability to perform tasks, their comfort and their interactions with patients and the public.”

The project employs a systematic research approach, combining literature reviews, environmental scans, controlled trials, staff surveys and stakeholder feedback to assess SRBA’s impact on safety, performance and perceptions.

It is being carried out in multiple phases. The first phase involves reviewing existing research and conducting an environmental scan to gather insights from other emergency services worldwide that have trialled or implemented SRBA.

The second phase will focus on testing SRBA in both simulated environments and real-world paramedic settings.

This will assess how the armour affects paramedics’ physical movements, task performance and overall comfort while working. These trials will help determine if SRBA can be effectively incorporated into paramedic uniforms without compromising performance.

A key aspect of the trial will also involve assessing paramedics’ perceptions of SRBA and its impact on their professional roles, including changes in risk-taking behaviour, patient rapport and their overall sense of safety.

The evaluation also includes a Return on Investment (ROI) analysis to examine the financial impact of SRBA for NSW Ambulance. This will look at costs associated with workplace violence and injury prevention, as well as potential savings over time related to enhanced paramedic safety.

In addition to feedback from paramedics, the project will gather input from stakeholders including emergency department staff, police and the wider community.

This will allow the research team to understand how SRBA may influence public perceptions of paramedics and their role in providing out-of-hospital care.

While SRBA has been used in other emergency services worldwide, this evidence-based research represents one of the first efforts to assess its suitability and impact within paramedic services.

Charles Sturt’s experience in workplace safety research, coupled with its ongoing collaboration with NSW Ambulance on the Body Worn Camera Pilot Project, positions the University to conduct this important study.

“Ensuring the safety of paramedics is essential, and through this research, we hope to provide insights that will inform decision-making not only within NSW Ambulance but across paramedic services nationwide,” Professor Maria said.

The project is progressing through various phases, with key findings expected by the end of 2025 with results that could potentially shape paramedic safety policies and practices in Australia and beyond.

Simulated trials will occur at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst and Port Macquarie, with real-world trials potentially extending to operational NSW Ambulance environments.

For further information about the SRBA trial, contact Associate Professor Sonja Maria at smaria@csu.edu.au

Learn more about studying the Bachelor of Paramedicine at Charles Sturt University.