St John Ambulance Australia New South Wales

This article is about St John Ambulance Australia New South Wales. For St John Ambulance in other states, see St John Ambulance Australia.
St John Ambulance Australia (New South Wales)

St John Ambulance Australia Logo
Abbreviation St John NSW
Motto Saving Lives Through First Aid
Formation 1883
Type Charitable organisation
Limited company
Headquarters Burwood, New South Wales, 2134
Location
Parent organisation
St John Ambulance Australia
Affiliations Order of St John
Website http://www.stjohnnsw.com.au/

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".

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.[3]

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.[4]

St John NSW supports and funds a "First Aid in Schools" program aimed and engaging primary school aged students in first aid.[5] St John continues to use its influence to promote early education in schools across Australia.[6]

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."[11]

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.[13]

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 John Ward

Assistant Commissioner (Clinical) - Dr David Fahey

Assistant Commissioner (Youth) - Mr Paul Compton

Assistant Commissioner (Operational Support) Ms Kerrie Hall

Assistant Commissioner (Training and Development) Mrs Kelly Morrisey


Grade II

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

- Mr Edward Anstee

- Mrs Louise Wilson

- Mrs Margaret Vincent

See also

External links

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, April 03, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.