| Caption: | St John Ambulance NSW |
| Type: | Charitable organisation Limited company |
| Headquarters: | Burwood, New South Wales, 2134 |
| Language: | English |
| Leader Title: | Commissioner |
| Leader Name: | Ilan Lowbeer OStJ (Commissioner) |
| Key People: | Sean McGuinness (Chairman) Dominic Teakle (CEO) Elliot Williams (Deputy Commissioner) Marian Casey (Deputy Commissioner) Benjamin McClure (Deputy Commissioner) |
| Affiliations: | Order of St John |
| Volunteers: | 2,800 |
| St John Ambulance NSW | |
| Size: | 89 |
| Abbreviation: | SJANSW |
| Location: | New South Wales |
| Num Staff: | 150 |
| Parent Organisation: | St John Ambulance Australia |
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" (plural/possessive) instead of "St John Ambulance" (singular).
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.
St John Ambulance NSW focuses on many different areas of healthcare, including
Responders (formerly First Aiders), First Responders, EMTs (formerly 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).
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.
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.
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 NSW does not train paramedics or offer diplomas in paramedical science programs in NSW.
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:
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.
St John NSW offers several services including:
First aid equipment is also utilised within the Event Health Services branch.
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]
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]
St John Ambulance volunteers also provide the emergency ambulance service for Norfolk Island.[15]
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.
| 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 |
Vehicles are used within St John NSW to support the organisational needs and values.
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.
An ambulance or patient transport vehicle that is either two or four-wheel drive. This type of vehicle is fitted with a Stryker M1 stretcher, piped oxygen, and other pre-hospital care equipment.
Vehicles used by the state communications group to provide radio communications for events.
Vehicles used by the bicycle emergency response team to transport bicycles and other equipment to and from events.
Vehicles driven by members of command staff for duties to and from the event.
Stub to expandVehicles 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.
Stub to expandWhere 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.