Abbreviation St John NSW Location New South Wales | Formation 1883 | |
Motto Saving Lives Through First Aid Type Charitable organisation
Limited company Headquarters Burwood, New South Wales, 2134 | ||
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. The organisation is sometimes incorrectly referred to "St John's Ambulance" instead of "St John Ambulance".
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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.
Activity Streams
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 Year's Eve celebrations.
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:
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.
Members must undergo yearly reaccreditation and minimum hours to hold clinical ranks. Other positions also require ongoing professional development to demonstrate currency.
St John 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.
St John NSW supports and funds a "First Aid in Schools" program aimed and engaging primary school aged students in first aid. St John continues to use its influence to promote early education in schools across Australia.
Examples of the program success is becoming more visible in the media:
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."
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 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.
Emergency Response
Stub to expand St John NSW is a "participating organisation under the NSW HEALTHPLAN and maintains a formal resource commitment agreement with NSW Health" to assist in disaster relief activities.
Vehicles
Vehicles are used within St John NSW to support the organisational needs and values.
Casualty Management Vehicles
Stub to expand An ambulance, or patient transport vehicle, that is either two or four-wheel drive. This type of vehicle is fitted with a patient stretcher, piped oxygen, and other pre-hospital care equipment, marked with highly visible vehicle livery, with permanently fitted red and white lights, and siren. Strict internal policies guide the use of lights and sirens.
Support Vehicles
Stub to expand
Business Steam
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.
Key Volunteer State Positions in New South Wales
Commissioner - Associate Professor Jason C Bendall OStJ
Assistant Commissioner (Metropolitan Operations) - Mr Colin Lott
Assistant Commissioner (Regional Operations) - Mr Joshua Clark
Assistant Commissioner (Strategy & Planning) - Mr John Ward
Assistant Commissioner (Clinical) - Dr David Fahey
Assistant Commissioner (Youth) - Mr Paul Compton
Assistant Commissioner (Operational Support) Ms Kerrie Hall
Assistant Commissioner (Innovation & Transformation) Mr Jason Li
State Clinical Governance Officer - Mr Geoff Kiehne
State Nursing Officer - Mr Elliot Williams
State Paramedic - Mr Alex Cardenas
State Chaplain - Bishop Richard Hurford (ret)
State Emergency Management Officer - Mr Sven Nilsson
Operations Support Group State Staff Officers - Event Planning & Delivery
- Mr James Broska - Mrs Louise Wilson
- Mrs Margaret Vincent