St John Ambulance NSW
AbbreviationSJANSW
Formation1883 (1883)
TypeCharitable organisation
Limited company
HeadquartersBurwood, New South Wales, 2134
Location
Official language
English
Commissioner
Ilan Lowbeer OStJ (Commissioner)
Key people
Sean McGuinness (Chairman)
Dominic Teakle (CEO)
Elliot Williams (Deputy Commissioner)
Marian Casey (Deputy Commissioner)
Benjamin McClure (Deputy Commissioner)
Parent organisation
St John Ambulance Australia
AffiliationsOrder of St John
Staff
150
Volunteers
2,800
Websitewww.stjohnnsw.com.au

St John Ambulance New South Wales (St John NSW) is a charitable organisation dedicated to helping people in sickness, distress, suffering or danger. It provides first aid training and event and community health care services. It is part of an international organisation that consists of eight Priories that form the Order of St John. The organisation is sometimes incorrectly referred to "St John's Ambulance" or "St Johns Ambulance" instead of "St John Ambulance".

History of St John Ambulance

In the 19th century, the Order Of St John was revived in England, inspired by the Knights of St John's historical dedication to providing care and shelter for pilgrims and crusaders. This revival aimed to perpetuate these traditions.

In 1877, St John Ambulance was established to translate humanitarian ideals into action within the evolving industrial society. Focused on promoting first aid for the sick and wounded, the organisation relied on volunteer efforts. The initiative extended globally with the establishment of St John Ambulance Australia in 1883, fostering associations in each state and territory to broaden the reach of first aid assistance.

Activity streams

St John Ambulance NSW focuses on many different areas of healthcare, including

Event health services

Responders (formerly First Aiders), First Responders, Advanced Responders and Health Care Professionals provide comprehensive medical services at events ranging from small community events (such as school fates and sports days, corporate events), to large public events such as Anzac Day services, Sydney Royal Easter Show, City2surf, Music Festivals, and New Year's Eve celebrations.[1]

Previously known as First Aid Services (FAS), and Operations Branch (OB).

Training

St John Ambulance is one of the largest first aid training organisations in Australia. St John NSW delivers nationally recognised training through the Australian Qualifications Framework, through the registration of their parent organisation St John Ambulance Australia.

Public

St John NSW can provide training to the public for units of competency including:

  • Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  • Provide basic emergency life support
  • Provide first aid (previously known as Apply First Aid and Senior First Aid)
  • Provide an emergency first aid response in an education and care setting
  • Provide first aid in remote situations
  • Provide advanced first aid
  • Provide advanced resuscitation
  • Manage first aid services and resources
  • Provide pain management
  • Perform rescue from a live low-voltage (LV) panel

Revenue derived from training is reinvested into training volunteers and community programs to promote the cause of saving lives through first aid awareness.

Internal

St John NSW members undergo internal training programs to obtain clinical qualifications and positions within the organisation.

  • St John Responders (formerly First Aiders) hold:
    • Provide first aid
    • Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation
    • Provide basic emergency life support
  • St John First Responders hold:
    • Requirements of St John First Aider
    • Provide advanced first aid
    • Provide advanced resuscitation
    • Provide pain management
    • Certificate II in Medical Service First Response
  • St John Advanced Responders hold:
    • Requirements of St John First Responder
    • Certificate III in Basic Health Care
  • Senior officers hold:
    • Certificate IV in Leadership and Management
  • Trainers hold:
    • Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

Members must undergo yearly reaccreditation and minimum hours to hold clinical ranks. Other positions also require ongoing professional development to demonstrate currency.

St John NSW does not train paramedics or offer diplomas in paramedical science programs in NSW.

Education and awareness

As advocates for first aid, St John NSW volunteer trainers deliver first aid skills in the community.[2]

St John NSW supports and funds a "First Aid in Schools" program aimed and engaging primary school aged students in first aid.[3] St John continues to use its influence to promote early education in schools across Australia.[4]

Examples of the program success is becoming more visible in the media:

  • Nikita Stutchbury saves mother, October 2015[5]
  • Zach Redwood saves five-year-old brother, March 2016[6][7]
  • Preston May saves little brother, March 2016[8]

Recognition programs are in place to award the public for use of first aid and CPR skills in the community. "Save a Life Award was an important opportunity to publicly acknowledge the admirable actions of recipients, and thank them on behalf of patients, their families and the local community."[9]

St John produce and distribute publications aimed at educating the general public including posters and fact sheets. The "St John Australian First Aid Manual" is widely distributed and is edited by a clinical board yearly to align with the most current evidence available.

St John Ambulance Australia has created and operates an Automated External Defibrillators (AED) register. The register aims to help locate this essential equipment often required in cardiac arrest.

Equipment

St John NSW offers several services including:

  • First aid kit manufacture and sales (direct or through local retailers)
  • First aid stock manufactured and distribution
  • Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) sales including equip, install and compliance check
  • Kit audit and restock services for state Work Health and Safety Act compliance.[10]

First aid equipment is also utilised within the Event Health Services branch.

Ophthalmic care

St John NSW raises funds and recruits staff for "ophthalmic projects in rural and remote areas of Northern NSW" the St John Ophthalmic Eye Hospital in Jerusalem.[11]

Emergency response

St John NSW is a "participating organisation under the NSW HEALTHPLAN and maintains a formal resource commitment agreement with NSW Health"[12] to assist in disaster relief activities.[13]

In practice, recently this has involved St John volunteers:[14]

  • Providing first aid and support at evacuation centres for bushfires and floods.
  • Providing first aid at staging areas for other emergency services (e.g. NSW Rural Fire Service) at bushfires.
  • Volunteer support to public information hotlines.
  • Assistance with temperature screening and testing services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

St John Ambulance volunteers also provide the emergency ambulance service for Norfolk Island.[15]

Divisions

St John Ambulance has 72 divisions across New South Wales from 18 areas. Combined divisions include both adult members as well as cadet and junior members. Cadet divisions are only for cadets. All other divisions are for adults.

Divisions of St John Ambulance NSW (adult / combined divisions only) by geographical region.
Northern Sydney Southern Sydney Northern NSW Southern NSW Western NSW
Blacktown Cadets Bankstown Armidale Albury-Corowa Bathurst
Blue Mountains Fairfield Cessnock Bulli Broken Hill
Granville Combined Division Glebe Coastal Waters (Central coast) Cooma Orana (Wellington / Dubbo)
Harbourside (Willoughby / Nth Sydney) Macarthur Coffs Harbour / Port Macquarie Goulburn Molong Cadet Division
Hawkesbury Miller Hamilton Kiama Wagga Wagga
Hills Paddington Tweed Valley Combined Moruya
Hornsby St George Lake Macquarie Queanbeyan
Kuringgai Sutherland Lismore Shoalhaven
Macquarie University Sydney University Maitland Ulladulla
Northern Beaches University of NSW Manning Great Lakes (Taree) Wollongong
Paramatta University of Tasmania (Rozelle) Singleton Non-geographical / other
Penrith Combined Division Western Suburbs Tamworth Operations support division
Ryde Tuggerah Lakes Scouts NSW
University of Newcastle Norfolk Island
Warners Bay

Ranks

Vehicles

An event response vehicle

Vehicles are used within St John NSW to support the organisational needs and values.

Event health services

All the event health services vehicles are fitted with flashing red or red and white beacons, sirens, highly visible vehicle livery as well as radio communications.

Strict internal policies applies to the use of lights and sirens.

Casualty management vehicles

An ambulance or patient transport vehicle that is either two or four-wheel drive. This type of vehicle is fitted with a Stryker stretcher, piped oxygen, and other pre-hospital care equipment.

Communications vehicles

Vehicles used by the state communications group to provide radio communications for events.

Bicycle Emergency Response Team (BERT)

Vehicles used by the bicycle emergency response team to transport bicycles and other equipment to and from events.

Command vehicles

Vehicles driven by members of command staff for duties to and from the event.

Business stream

Stub to expand Vehicles may be used for specialist business areas, such as the equipment supply and restocking business stream. Vehicle livery is intended to match the vehicle purpose, and may possess either corporate or service specific branding.

Role specific

Stub to expand Where the Board and/or the CEO has determine that a vehicle is required for effective performance in the job role, that role may access or be assigned a fleet vehicle. Vehicles are either plain in appearance, or branded with corporate livery.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Event Health Services". Stjohnnsw.com.au. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  2. ↑ "We're for Sydney". The Daily Telegraph. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  3. ↑ "First Aid in Schools". Stjohnnsw.com.au. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  4. ↑ "We're for Sydney". The Daily Telegraph. 3 January 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  5. ↑ "We're for Sydney". The Daily Telegraph. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  6. ↑ "We're for Sydney". The Daily Telegraph. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  7. ↑ "Cub Saves Younger Brother Using CPR Learnt at Scouts | Latest News". nsw.scouts.com.au. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  8. ↑ "We're for Sydney". The Daily Telegraph. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  9. ↑ "We're for Sydney". The Daily Telegraph. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  10. ↑ "Workplace Training". Stjohnnsw.com.au. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  11. ↑ "Ophthalmic Care". Stjohnnsw.com.au. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  12. ↑ "Important notice about this page". .health.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  13. ↑ "St John volunteers assist with NSW bushfire emergency". www.stjohnnsw.com.au. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  14. ↑ "St John Ambulance NSW Year in Review 2019".
  15. ↑ "Norfolk Island Health Service Plan" (PDF).
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