Victoria's paramedics will trial body cameras in an effort to reduce and record the "unacceptable high levels" of violence they face on the job - about 5000 cases per year.
Paramedics in Melbourne's CBD, northern and western suburbs will be a part of the trial, Minister for Ambulance Services, Jill Hennessy announced in Sunshine on Sunday.
"We know that about 5000 cases per year, hard working members of our ambulance services are subjected to violence and aggression, that's about 13 cases a day," she told reporters.
Of these, 581 cases were formally reported as occupational violence incidents.
So far another 161 incidents have already been reported for the first quarter of 2016/17.
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Ms Hennessy said paramedics have been trained to deal with violent situations, "but we've still got unacceptable levels of violence".
About 200 cameras will be rolled out and paramedics will tell people when they are being recorded.
The result of the trial should be known in about six months, Ms Hennessy said.
A similar trial is being undertaken by Victoria Police.
Ambulance Victoria's chief executive Tony Walker says it was a sad indictment on the community that such a trial was required.
"Our paramedics are not punching bags. People come to work every day to do their jobs," he told reporters.
