Exploring the experiences of female paramedics in Australian ambulance services through arts based research (#75)
Australian ambulance service culture has over the last 10 to 30 years moved away from being male dominated to become more accepting of female paramedics. A review of the literature found female paramedics have a higher incidence of workplace injuries and being exposed to some form of workplace violence when compared to male paramedics. Furthermore, despite female paramedics currently staffing over 50% of the Australian operational paramedic workforce, only a small percentage of women are represented in higher clinical, executive, and managerial roles and positions. Women are impacted by organisational policy in relation to maternity leave; lactation breaks; childcare; dealing with menstruation, gynaecological conditions, menopause Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) in the operational environment; accessing flexible working arrangements; career progression; inequity and/or bullying and harassment in the workplace. Possibly, a reason why current policies seem antiquated or inept to women, is because women have had little input into policy making, and previous policy makers were unaware of the female experience. The stories and experiences of women in Australian paramedicine are anecdotal or largely unreported. This study will explore the experiences of female paramedics who have encountered the gradual feminisation of the ambulance service culture in Australia. First, an online survey will establish participant demographics, and explore experiences and perceptions about opportunities and challenges of female paramedics in a traditionally male orientated workplace. Second, qualitative methods and arts-based research will build on the survey findings to explore the rich and deep experiences of women working in a historically male dominated profession. As no existing studies on the experiences of Australian female paramedics are available, this study has potential to generate new knowledge, fill a gap in paramedicine literature, and instigate organisational policy and procedural change.