Paramedics believe the WWCC is a work expense that should be borne by their employer.

A Young paramedic, who did not want to be named, said this issue would become messy on April 1 when some local Ambos will turn up for work without their Working With Children Clearance.

Australian Paramedics Association (APA NSW) Secretary Steve Pearce said Premier Gladys Berejiklian was keen to tell the public the Government was debt free and flush with cash but was unwilling to exempt paramedics from the $80 WWCC five-year clearance fee.

“Police are not paying the $80 fee because they aren’t required to, and our members are telling us overwhelmingly they won’t be paying for it either,” Mr Pearce said.

"Paramedics are willing to undergo the WWCC process but would refuse to pay the outrageous fee as a matter of principal.

“We have approached Treasurer Dominic Perrottet several times in the hope of talking sense to the Government and gain a waiver or the same exemption as police, but he has refused to budge.”

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said local ambulance crews perform a vital role in all of our communities but must make sure they have all the necessary qualifications and training to do their work.

“This work will inevitably – and unfortunately – involve working with our youngest and most vulnerable members of society," she said.

“Since 2013, anyone wishing to work with children in NSW must have a WWCC from the Office of the Children’s Guardian.

“As part of keeping children safe, the WWCC  applies to a wide range of people in the private and public sectors. This includes frontline public sector staff such as teachers, doctors, nurses, and paramedics.

Ms Cooke said the fee equates to four cents a day for Ambulance workers.

“It costs $16 a year for a WWCC clearance, which equates to about four cents a day. The fee is fully tax deductible for employees who are required to apply for this check," she said. 

“The WWCC involves a national police check, a check of workplace misconduct findings and notifications by the NSW Ombudsman concerning reportable conduct allegations.

“NSW Health remains committed to the protection of children and the WWCC is as an important part of the overall strategy around keeping children safe.”

But (APANSW) President Chris Kastelan said NSW Ambulance is now sending out emails threatening paramedics they could face fines of up to $11,000 each if they don’t pay the fee. 

“What NSW Ambulance and the Government need to understand is we won’t be paying for something we believe they should be responsible for,” he said.  

“Paramedics have been taking hit after hit to their working conditions over several years and have had enough.”

“We won’t be meeting the April 1 deadline because we aren’t a bunch of April fools who the Government can walk over, we know when their child is in need of urgent lifesaving care, parents will back us over a bunch of greedy politicians any day."