Prabhjeet Gill, Student Paramedic Secures Victory Against
Ambulance Victoria’s Grooming Policy
Los Angeles/Nov 29, 2025
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh
A Sikh student 'Prabhjeet Gill' paramedic has won his discrimination battle with Ambulance Victoria after being denied a mask fitting due to his beard.
Nineteen-year-old Prabhjeet Gill, a first-year Monash University student, filed a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission when he was told he must shave to attend his clinical placement. Gill had requested to use the Singh Thattha method, a mask-fitting technique used in many health settings that allows bearded staff to achieve a safe seal.
Gill said he was shocked when his appointment was cancelled and he was told that being clean-shaven was his only option. For him, shaving is not allowed under Sikh faith. “Our beard is part of our identity,” he said.
Following media coverage, Gill received an exemption, but he argued the policy should change for everyone facing similar religious or cultural requirements. Ambulance Victoria has now introduced a new fitting pathway that includes the Singh Thattha technique for staff with facial hair for religious, cultural or medical reasons.
The Victorian Ambulance Union welcomed the update, calling Gill’s efforts “brave” and necessary to ensure a diverse workforce. Sikh community leaders also expressed relief, saying the previous restrictions discouraged aspiring paramedics.
Despite the outcome, Gill said it “doesn’t feel like a victory,” as no one should have to fight a state organisation to practise their faith. He hopes the change will allow him — and others — to continue pursuing a career in paramedicine.
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