Australian Emergency Law, published by Michael Eburn, PhD, focuses on legal issues related to emergency services and responses in Australia. The blog covers topics such as employment disputes and disciplinary actions within fire and rescue services, legal implications of safety alerts issued by rural fire services, and the legal aftermath of emergency incidents including terrorism and public safety events. It also addresses industrial relations and ministerial powers affecting emergency service organizations, as well as procedural challenges faced by emergency service personnel in legal claims. The blog discusses statutory interpretation, negligence, liability, and regulatory compliance in the context of emergency management and public safety law.
I received the following as a response to my post Interstate paramedic and NSW Working with Children Check (August 30, 2026):
The minimum age to join the NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) is 16: https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/volunteer/faqs
In the last few…
Today’s correspondent is
… a paramedic employed in Victoria by Ambulance Victoria. I currently work in a border town and often find myself transporting patients to a hospital located in NSW as well as, occasionally attending cases in NSW.
We…
Today’s question is a follow up to the post Student paramedic as team first aider (August 27, 2026). My correspondent says:
I would be interested in your view on, particularly in relation to sports trainers in Victoria.
We regularly see sporting…
Today’s
… question relates to the administration of drugs by Registered Paramedics (within ambulance and not within ambulance), in Victoria, and the inability for them to receive a Doctor’s Order to administer a medication.
There are three scenarios. The first, is…
Today’s correspondent, from Victoria, has:
… a question in regards to liability and insurance and other related matters that I may be unaware of, in regards to providing first aid in a sporting/ event context in Victoria.
As a student paramedic…
Today’s correspondent was:
… at AFAC 2026 and one of the exhibitors (training suppliers) presented to me an argument that (for SES) training should be part of the National Training Framework (ie training.gov.au) not locally developed in the state by…
Today’s correspondent asks:
I’m working at a mine in NSW as an emergency services officer I’m wondering if I completed this nationally accredited training would I then be able to use those skills in NSW?
Link attached to the training. …
Today’s correspondent says:
I thought I’d reach out about a Facebook post I saw this morning from Safety and First-aid Education Tasmania. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19DJC1WiJB/
It reads:
“A few days ago two of our staff received a request via the responder app…
Today’s correspondent asks:
Can Paramedics and or Emergency First Responders randomly select and conduct “Phase 0,1,2,3 or 4 Medical Research Clinical trials” on patients (humans) under the Guardianship and Administration Act 1986 Part 4A—Medical and Other Treatment Division 3—Emergency treatment…
I have received several questions/comments regarding the status of volunteers with Victoria SES and I have taken the liberty of editing them into this one combined question. For related posts see:
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