St John Ambulance (New South Wales)

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).

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:

• 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.

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

• St John First Aiders hold:
  • Provide first aid
• 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.

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.

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.

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]

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 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 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.

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.