MELBOURNE: Sikh student in Australia wins case; was initially asked to get clean-shaven for wearing PPE mask

MELBOURNE: A 19-year-old Sikh student in Australia’s Monash University filed a case with the Australian Human Rights Commission against Ambulance Victoria, the state agency for ambulance service for Victoria, after he was asked to come clean-shaven on the first day of his on-the-job training. Paramedic student Prabhjeet Gill said he had requested the agency in advance to use the ‘Singh Thattha’ method, where Sikh people wear a medical mask with the help of an elastic band. Singh said he was extremely disappointed and shocked as he believed that Victoria Ambulance endorsed the Singh Thattha method.
“Just like the turban, the beard is part of our identity,” Gill told the ABC. “It’s a belief that we shouldn’t remove any hair from our body, we should leave it the way God created us.”

Gill said after his incident created a flutter, he was allowed to wear the mask on his beard using the Singh Thatta technique but he felt that someone else might face a similar situation some day and then he decided to file an official complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission.

“Nobody should ever have to fight against a state government organisation to be able to wear their religious identity,” Gill said. “So I wish it was a win, but at the end of the day, it was just about getting our rights back.”

“I’m happy that I can continue my studies and placement with Ambulance Victoria, but whether I can get a job with Ambulance Victoria, subsequently, after all this, remains to be seen.”

Ambulance Victoria says they are changing policies

In a letter to the commission on November 24, Ambulance Victoria said it “acknowledged the concerns raised by Mr Gill” in relation to Ambulance Victoria’s failure to adopt his preferred method of mask fitting.

“Perhaps unbeknownst to Mr Gill, Ambulance Victoria has reconsidered its position regarding the ‘Singh Thattha’ method of mask fitting for PPE [personal protective equipment] and has recently engaged with Monash Health to assist with this method of mask fitting upon request by an AV employee,” it said.

Facial hair often obstructs in tight sealing of a PPE Mask and the Singh Thatta technique involves using an elastic band to cover the beard to create a smooth surface which is tied to head. Then the respirator mask is worn on the band.