St John NT

This week we took a moment to reflect and recognise our first responders who answered the call as Cyclone Tracy tore through Darwin, leaving widespread destruction. On duty Christmas Eve 1974 was a team of St John olunteers staffing the Parap Ambulance Station, including Pat King OStJ, who was rostered on emergency communications. Pat has been recognised with a Bronze Commendation along with many others for the roles they played in providing care to the community in the aftermath of the cyclone. We were honoured to have His Honour Professor the Honourable Hugh Heggie PSM, KStJ, Administrator of the Northern Territory and Ms Ruth Jones, Patron of St John NT unveil our Cyclone Tracy commemorative sign and launch our website where we share the stories of St John Volunteers and staff who worked tirelessly to deliver first aid and support the community, even when they themselves had lost so much. While Christmas Day 1974 will always be remembered for the tragic impact of Cyclone Tracy on Darwin, it also presented the defining moment for St John and its transformation from a volunteer service to the ambulance service provider in Darwin. Now 50 years later St John NT continues to operate the ambulance service and remains steadfast in its mission to save lives and build community resilience. All of those who came together in the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy and contributed to this effort, even after losing so much are to be commended. A special thanks to those who have supported this project including City of Darwin, Nortruss Hardware, SECA Structural Engineering, AB Consulting and Brainium Labs, without which this project would not have been possible. The Cyclone Tracy commemorative sign can be viewed at our Parap Station, 57 Ross Smith Ave, with more information about the volunteers and staff who played a role and their stories available here: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gNr7utaG

🌍✨ Happy International Volunteer Day! ✨🌍 Today, we celebrate the extraordinary contributions of our volunteers, whose dedication, compassion, and hard work continue to drive the development and success of St John NT. Their selfless service impacts our community every day, from delivering essential health services to supporting key events. As we reflect on the journey of our volunteers over the years, this throwback highlights the diverse faces and stories that have shaped our organisation. We are grateful for their commitment and the lasting difference they make 💙 Join us in recognising these remarkable individuals and the countless hours they dedicate to helping others. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact, we invite you to explore volunteer opportunities with us! Learn more here 🔗 https://lnkd.in/giPvrCYX

Our wiz-bang training Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are hard at work in our volunteer divisions thanks to funding from Power and Water, through their Community Grants Program 🫶 These vital pieces of equipment help us equip our teams - from Juniors to Adults - in life-saving skills, so they are ready to respond to cardiac arrest emergencies across the Territory and beyond 💖 AEDs are an invaluable tool for saving lives, and having them available as training tools at all of our volunteer divisions ensures that our members are better equipped to handle medical emergencies quickly and effectively 💪⏱️ Funding from our partners are an important step in enhancing the preparedness of our volunteers. We are thankful to Power and Water for this invaluable contribution to our mission. We look forward to continuing our work together to upskill our volunteers, ultimately creating a safer NT 🌟

Tarja (Taz) is our Rotary Club of Darwin Sunrise Paramedic of the Year winner!! 🚑🏆🚨👏 2024 marks 25 years since Rotary began celebrating the above and beyond service of our paramedics. Originally called Ambulance Officer of the Year, the award evolved into Paramedic of the Year in 2004 to reflect the range of officers in the service, and has since grown into the Excellence Awards to recognise the exceptional work of team members from all areas of our organisation. Rotary have remained the award sponsor, and we thank them for their continued support of both this award and our paramedics. Presented by Minister for Health, The Hon. Steven Edgington MLA, Rotary Club of Darwin Sunrise President, Joseph Aladin, and our very first Ambulance Officer of the Year winner, Jim Leigh, Taz was named this year's Paramedic of the Year. A deserving recipient of this year's award, Taz is highly regarded by her peers in Alice Springs and across the Territory. Her commitment to the wellbeing of her team directly improves their ability to provide quality care to patients. Taz is a quintessential paramedic and exemplary role model, consistently showing her profound commitment to her team and community, and she embodies our core values: Respect, Integrity, Compassion, and Empathy. Congratulations to all of our Excellence Awards nominees, finalists and winners! And thank you to everyone who supported the wonderful event More photos to come!!

Please welcome our two new Board Members, Mrs Teresa (Terri) Hart PSM and Dr Felix Ho 🥳 Our new additions were voted in at last night's AGM, bringing a wealth of experience across business, governance and medicine to our not-for-profit Board, as well as an understanding of the Northern Territory and the Order of St John. A huge thank you to our outgoing Board Members, Mr Roland Chin AM KStJ, and Mrs Terri-Ann Maney MStJ, whose contributions over the last 22 and 9 years, respectively, have helped shape the organisation we are today. Board Chair, Mr Carew AM MStJ, said that Roland and Terri-Ann have been "outstanding advocates for our organisation with a passion for the Territory and the wellbeing of our communities, staff and volunteers". Looking forward, we are thrilled to have Terri and Felix onboard (😆) and can't wait to see the ways they will help shape the future of St John NT Read more about our new board members and find our 2023-24 Annual Report here 🔗 https://bit.ly/4eUM8R4

At this evening's AGM, Mel handed the epaulettes over to her successor, the new St John NT Commissioner The very first woman to serve St John NT as Commissioner, Mel has held the role for over three years, ensuring the growth and stability of our volunteer operations. Her leadership was defined by a commitment to innovation, community engagement, and above all, the wellbeing of our volunteers and the people we serve. Even after moving interstate, Mel continued to serve our volunteers by working remotely, and trekking her way north again whenever she was needed. Her dedication to our organisation never wavered, and her legacy will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact. Highlights of Mel's tenure include: 🗣️ The establishment of the Youth Round Table, empowering young volunteers to voice their opinions and take on leadership roles 🧑🏫 Overseeing the expansion of our training programs, ensuring all volunteers had access to the best possible resources and education 🤝 Strengthening relationships with local communities and organisations, ensuring that St John NT remains an integral part of the Northern Territory’s emergency response network On behalf of our entire organisation, we thank you and wish you all the best in future, Mel! Congratulations to Warren, who has been appointed as our new Commissioner! Warren's unparalleled commitment to St John as an intensive care paramedic and volunteer over the last 24 years, and extensive contributions to our organisation over this time, make him a worthy Commissioner - though Mel’s legacy won’t be an easy one to follow! We are embarking on this next chapter together and will continue to grow, innovate, and serve our community. We can’t wait to see and share the positive impact Warren will have over the next three years!

What an incredible night it was as we recognised the outstanding individuals in our team who touch the lives of thousands of Territorians Our Excellence Awards showcase the passion and commitment that drives St John NT’s mission every day: our dedicated paramedics, emergency medical dispatchers, patient transport officers, volunteers, and support staff Congratulations to all our winners and finalists for your dedication, hard work, and selfless service to the Territory community! The list of winners is on our website here 🔗 bit.ly/3B2fGhN A huge thank you to our special guests, including Health Minister Steven Edgington MLA, and Darwin Sunrise Rotary Members, as well as all of our event sponsors, without whom the event would not be possible! Automobile Association NT (AANT) Area9 IT Solutions Australasian College of Paramedicine Charles Darwin University Ferno Marsh Nine Palmerston Regional Business Association Inc The Pharmacy Guild of Australia ZOLL Medical Corporation Northern Territory Government Together, we continue to inspire and make a difference in the NT!

It’s not often our CEE (Chief Executive Elf!), Andrew, has the pleasure of stepping out of the office in his full elf attire, but the Casuarina Christmas Convoy gave him the perfect excuse! 🎄🎅✨ Our Chief Elf and every one of Santa's St John helpers would like to thank everyone for making this year's convoy so special 🥰 We’re so grateful to be part of such an incredible community, and wish Rudolph all the best outshining Santa's new helicopter this Christmas Eve! 🚁😆

Ever wondered where ambulances come from? Hint: it's not Santa! 🤔🚑 The team at our Winnellie workshop put hundreds of hours into each ambulance fix, refurb and build! Robert is one of our amazing mechanics who makes sure our ambulances are safe and equipped with the right life-saving systems, and today we're celebrating his three-year milestone with us!! Congratulations Robert, here's to many more years with you in our team 👏

Alex is one of our Excellence in First Aid Training finalists! 🏆🌟 As our only trainer qualified to deliver EVERY course we offer, from Anaphylaxis to Remote Area First Aid, Alex brings unmatched expertise and a natural mentoring ability that makes him a vital resource for both colleagues and students. Congratulations Alex! 👏 As we count down to the awards night, make sure to follow our socials to see who else has been named a finalist in our Excellence Awards! 👀