A paramedic falsely accused of digitally raping a patient in the back of an ambulance says it is "appalling" that Melbourne's Metropolitan Ambulance Service (MAS) has never supported him.
Simon Paul Howe, 33, was on Thursday acquitted by a County Court jury after being accused of digitally raping a drug-affected patient being transferred to hospital.
The alleged incident occurred in November 2006 and the MAS sacked Mr Howe in February the next year.
Following Thursday's acquittal, the MAS released a statement declaring Mr Howe would not be reinstated.
The MAS said his dismissal was because of a contract breach and was not related to the allegations.
On Friday Mr Howe, who has lodged an unfair dismissal complaint with the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC), said he was determined to get his job back.
Having always maintained his innocence, Mr Howe said after being proven not guilty, he had no idea why the MAS had not stood by him through the 18-month ordeal.
"I have absolutely no idea, I've not had a single complaint or blemish in my career, I've been highly regarded," Mr Howe told reporters in Melbourne.
"There are senior paramedics of more advanced training than I who continue to come forward and speak to me and say `if you need any reference for any degree of your professionalism please feel free to use me'.
"So I have absolutely no idea, no clue and it's just appalling that I've never once had their support."
Ambulance Employees Australia state secretary Steve McGhie said the union would support Mr Howe's unfair dismissal complaint all the way through to its conclusion and he said industrial action could be discussed in the future.
He called on Victorian Health Minister Daniel Andrews to sack MAS chief executive Greg Sassella.
A spokesman for Mr Andrews said the government would wait for the outcome of the unfair dismissal arbitration before making any comment. An MAS spokeswoman said there was no further comment.
Source: Teacher Lingo