St John Ambulance Australia New South Wales

St John Ambulance Australia New South Wales (St John NSW) is a self-funding first aid service charitable organisation dedicated to helping people in sickness, distress, suffering or danger. It is part of an international organisation that consists of eight Priories that form the Order of St John.

History of St John Ambulance

In the Nineteenth Century a group of citizens revived the Order of St John in England, drawing their inspiration from the example of the Knights of St John who, in medieval times, offered care and shelter for pilgrims and crusaders.

St John Ambulance was subsequently formed to put its humanitarian ideals into practice in the new industrial society, promoting the cause of first aid for the sick and wounded through volunteer effort - a novel concept at the time and a much-needed one.

The movement spread to Australia in 1883 and has since developed into the organisation that we know today. The work of the Order of St John is carried out in many countries around the world. St John is a Royal Order of Chivalry with the Queen as its Sovereign Head.

Activities

St John NSW has several areas of focus:

Event Health Services

St John provides volunteer First Aiders, First Responders, Advanced Responders and Health Care Professionals to provide medical services at small community events from school fates and sports days, corporate events and large public events such as ANZAC day services and New Years Eve celebrations.^[1]

St John NSW is also a "participating organisation under the NSW HEALTHPLAN and maintains a formal resource commitment agreement with NSW Health"^[2] to assist in disaster relief activities.

Previously known as First Aid Services, and Operations Branch.

Training

St John is the largest first aid training organisation in Australia. St John NSW primarily delivers courses in:

• Provide First Aid (previously known as Apply First Aid and Senior First Aid) course
• Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
• Provide Advanced Resuscitation
• Use of Automated External Defibrillation (AED)
• Provide Pain Management.

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

Revenue raised from training are reinvested into community programs to promote the cause of saving lives through first aid awareness.

Education and Awareness

As advocates for first aid, St John NSW volunteer trainers deliver first aid skills in the community.^[3]

St John NSW supports and funds a "First Aid In Schools" program aimed and engaging primary school aged students.^[4] In Oct 2015, St John NSW Schools Program was credited when a student saved her mother's life.^[5] The organisation responded by awarding the student their "Save a Life Award". St John continues to use its influence to promote early education in schools across Australia.^[6]

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."^[7]

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.^[8]

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.^[9]

Key Volunteer State Positions in New South Wales

State Commissioner

Commissioner- Mr Didier Moutia

Assistant Commissioner (Metropolitan Operations) - Mr Colin Lott

Assistant Commissioner (Regional Operations) - Mr Joshua Clark

Assistant Commissioner (Strategy & Planning) - Mr Rod O'Donnell (Acting)

Assistant Commissioner (Clinical) - Dr David Fahey

Assistant Commissioner (Youth) - Mr Paul Compton

Grade II

State Clinical Governance Officer - Mr Geoff Kiehne

State Nursing Officer - Mr Elliot Williams

State Paramedic - Mr Richard Thomas

State Strategy Officer - Mr John Ward

State Support Services Officer - Ms Jasmin Craufurd-Hill (Acting)

State Chaplain - Bishop Richard Hurford (ret)

State Education Officer - Mr Mark Hutchings

State Emergency Management Officer - Mr David Czerkies

Northern Region Superintendent- Mr George Brown

South-Western Sydney Region Superintendent- Mrs Lynn Berghofer (Acting)

North-Western Sydney Region Superintendent - Ms Val Hutchinson

Southern Region Superintendent - Mr Jeff Butler (Chris Chant resigned)

Western Region Superintendent - Mr Joshua Clark

Major Events Group Superintendent - Mr Joshua Emanuel

University Superintendent - Ms Debbie Nilsson (Acting)

See also

• St John Ambulance Australia
• Venerable Order of Saint John
• St John Ambulance
• St John Ambulance Ranks and Insignia

References