1 week Ago By Damon Cronshaw
Hunter paramedic Natasha Whiteley was overwhelmed with support after raising concerns about NSW Ambulance management forcing her to change hair colour. Login or signup to continue reading "It was amazing," said Ms Whiteley, an HSU (Health Services Union) delegate, of Medowie Ambulance Station. "Even my nan and pop, who I hadn't spoken to about the situation, called me.
" The news had spread to "other ambulance stations and paramedic colleagues on annual leave and overseas". "They've all been messaging me in support," she said. The Newcastle Herald reported on Thursday that colleagues would colour their hair to show solidarity with Ms Whiteley, who was disciplined for dyeing her hair red.
Ms Whiteley said management "forced me to change my hair colour to a more professional - in their words - natural colour". "I got an ultimatum of do not return to work unless your hair is a normal colour," she said. "I had to bleach my hair, which destroyed it, and I chopped it all off.
It's now really short." She felt like she had to "change my personal identity for the service". "I don't recognise myself in the mirror.
It's very hard to deal with, so seeing all the support from everyone is just overwhelming. "I really hope we get a chance to change the policy." Ms Whiteley had been a paramedic for three years, a nurse for 10 years and had five years of medical training.
Asked if changing her hair colour was a kind of therapy for the trauma she faced as a paramedic, she said "100 per cent". "All the ED nurses, paramedics and police, how many of them have PTSD? Colouring hair is very much part of that release of emotions. "I find it very therapeutic to change my hair colour.
I love having a fun and vibrant outlook." She said paramedics "have to deal with a lot of traumatic and stressful situations, sometimes multiple times a day". "Any sort of feeling that management is not there to support you is detrimental.
" The hair ordeal made her not want to go to work, even though she loved her job. "For anyone who experiences any kind of workplace bullying or harassment, it's stressful," she said. "It's heartbreaking that this is the sort of issue many paramedics are getting in trouble for.
"Even offhanded verbal warnings for a uniform breach impacts people's mental health and how they feel about the job, management and the service in general." In making her change her hair, she felt management "don't like the way we look". "It makes you feel like you don't look professional, even though that's wrong," she said.
"It's made me feel like I'm not supported by management. If it's in one area, you'd expect you're not going to be supported in other areas as well." HSU secretary Gerard Hayes dyed his hair blue and shared a "Coloured Hair Day" video with members.
"My hair is blue. Guess what? I can still do work. I can still meet with the Premier should I need to," Mr Hayes said.
"The colour of my hair is not going to change the fight I have in me." On Wednesday, a NSW Ambulance spokesperson said its uniform policy was "due for review". "The changing views of the community and workforce will be considered as part of that review," it said.
It added that the review would ensure "the appropriate professional standards expected of registered healthcare practitioners". Health and medicine, science, research, nutrition. Health and medicine, science, research, nutrition.
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