NSW Ambulance urged not to extend Westpac Rescue Helicopter contract over safety concerns

A parliamentary inquiry is set to recommend that NSW Ambulance should not extend its contract with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service's northern New South Wales operation unless it is satisfied that workplace safety standards are met. The inquiry report, due today, also calls for a transparent investigation into staff conduct and safety practices at the service.

Former training coordinator Stacey Price, who worked for the rescue service from 2018 to 2024, testified that she experienced and witnessed workplace bullying, sexual harassment and intimidation after raising safety‑compliance concerns. She said an independent medical assessment linked the harassment to PTSD and anxiety. The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service operates under a 10‑year contract with NSW Ambulance on behalf of NSW Health, with bases at Belmont, Lismore and Tamworth and administration in Broadmeadow.