"My back was facing the street and I felt someone come up from behind me and they pushed me up against the car. They put their arm over my shoulder and around my neck," she told 3AW. "I thought it was a friend hugging me from behind, to be honest, to start with, then I realised the hand was trying to find my neck." She said she managed to push his arm down slightly, which meant the blade hit her in the chest rather than her neck. "I can't tell you what the person was thinking," she said. "I think I may have known him, I may have treated him in the past. I'm not 100 per cent sure. I didn't see his face at the time but I did see him in the street as I was pulling up, so it is a possibility it was somebody I'd treated."

Ambulance Victoria chief executive Tony Walker said the "absolutely abhorrent" targeted attack may have been directed at the woman because she was wearing her uniform. "[It was] a horrendous assault on someone who has finished the day shift, had picked up the kids, was picking up some dinner... and she's been assaulted by someone who we think we may have treated as a patient in the past," he said. Ambulance Victoria chief executive Tony Walker. Credit:Amy Paton "Sadly you think you've seen the worst of things then you hear about these sort of things happening. And we think she's been targeted because she was in uniform... it's just disgusting," he said. The woman was treated for minor injuries and taken to Peninsula Health. She has since been discharged.

A 47-year-old man was arrested on Saturday in relation to the attack. The man, of no fixed place of address, is assisting police with their enquiries. The attack comes amid a state government crackdown which will see violent attacks on emergency services workers placed in the same category as offences including murder and rape. The announcement from the state government followed a spate of violent assaults on emergency service workers, and widespread outrage over the quashing of a jail term on appeal for two women who assaulted paramedic Paul Judd in 2016. Victorian paramedics have been protesting since two women escaped a jail term for bashing their colleague after an appeal. Credit:Jason South Ambulance Employee Association Victorian secretary Danny Hill said the stabbing attack on the paramedic highlighted the need for legislative changes to include minimum mandatory sentences for people who assault emergency workers.

“This incident is gut-wrenching and disturbing and sends shockwaves through the entire ambulance family. Here was a paramedic with her children, picking up dinner after work like so many workers do and she’s ended up spending the night in hospital leaving her children traumatised," he said. "Incidents like this highlight the need for strong laws to protect paramedics and the need for a strong message of deterrence against assaults on emergency workers." Mr Walker said he was unsure whether the new legislation would cover the Rosebud stabbing attack given she was off-duty at the time. He added they would now have to advise staff not to wear their uniform when they are off-duty. "It's getting to that point, we have previously during particularly elevated security risks advised staff to be careful not wearing the uniform outside of work," he said.

"I mean I do it, I wear my uniform, I don't think twice about it, you jump in car, you might stop at the shop or something. I think this has highlighted the risk to us obviously and we have to talk to our staff about it." The woman, who is taking some time off work, said she was feeling scared, shocked and disappointed in the wake of the attack. "I know I won't wear my uniform home again," she said. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video A spokesman for Health Minister Jill Hennessy said it was never acceptable to assault paramedics.

"Our paramedics do a wonderful job saving the lives of Victorians and it’s never okay that they’re attacked. Emergency service workers put their lives on the line to keep us safe. They are not punching bags," the spokesman said. "Our thoughts are with the mother, her children and their family at this difficult time." Anyone who witnessed the incident or with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au