The Melbourne Street Medic Collective are a group of qualified first aiders and medical professionals, who are also proud to be activists involved in progressive campaigns for refugee rights, the environment, and against racism and fascism. We exist to provide physical and mental health support to other activists in these social movements, especially during protests and other actions, and often find ourselves bandaging a sprained ankle or helping someone get through a burst of panic when they’re in a crowd.
On Saturday 18th July, the Melbourne Street Medics were in attendance when an anti-racist demonstration, made up of students, trade unionists, pensioners, members of various community and ethnic groups and everyone in between, came together to oppose two small but hateful rallies of nationalist bigots and outright fascists. The air of relative calm despite an extraordinary police presence became undone when police chose to deploy a very strong pepper spray indiscriminately through the crowd multiple times. The Melbourne Street Medics, who self-fund all their own medical first aid supplies, were soon very low indeed. Extra supplies needed to be bought immediately. All in all roughly 100 people were treated that day, and we are asking you to donate! This would help us not only resupply kits and offset costs for equipping new medics, but also assist us to afford training spaces to up-skill new and current medics.
To donate to help these heroes click on this link and hit the donate button on the right. Have your credit card ready to give as much as you can to these wonderful people.
Please help us to care for those who stand up for our rights. We attend actions to provide preventative care, treat injuries and to respond to other physical and emotional needs. We help community activists to operate in the safest possible environment, from the planning stages through to debriefing after events. We also offer street medic workshops to assist activists prepare for future actions. It is our aim to provide Victoria’s activist community with a free and high quality first aid and care service that meets professional standards of care. We believe in empowering individuals and the wider community to fight for a better world.
How the funds will be used
$10 – buys a packet of bandages, one heavy-weight bandage (for sprains/strains) or electrolytes for rehydration
$20 – buys a pepper spray decontamination kit (including liquid antacid, gauze, gloves and eye protection) or a box of nitrile gloves
$22 – buys a basic small kit, which can be used by trainee Street Medics and as spares
$50 – offsets the cost of hiring rooms to train and upskill Street Medics
$100 – buys a tent to use as clearly designated treatment space
Rewards
While many crowdfunding campaigns offer material rewards for backers, such as T-shirts or badges, we don’t produce merchandise so are unable to offer these as rewards. We are, however, more than happy to arrange a speaker or workshop, and we will happily arrange to facilitate activist training for physical and mental health where possible. We are also able to send a massive shout-out to yourself, or your organisation, collective or group, on our page for your support and solidarity!
Please donate and share!
We have been overwhelmed with the outpourings of support, positive feedback and practical help that the community has extended us since the extensive and indiscriminate use of pepper spray against anti-racism protesters on Saturday 18th July. Any donation, great or small, is much appreciated, and the solidarity expressed by those donations is just as important as the funds themselves. Please share widely to help us keep those involved in social movements safe and healthy when we’re on the streets!
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Time July 21, 2015 at 4:43 am
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