2008 2009 Annual Report

23
08/09 For the Service of Humanity 117TH ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT THE COMMANDERY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

description

Saint John Ambulance 2008 2009 Annual Report First Aid Charity

Transcript of 2008 2009 Annual Report

08/09

For th e Service of Humanity

117TH ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORTTHE COMMANDERY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION 4

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE 6

STRATEGIC DIRECTION 9

EXECUTIVE TEAM 10

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT 12

Introduction 12

Financial Position 13

Ambulance Service 18

Paramedic Education Program 26

Community Services 27

Volunteer First Aid Services 29

Community Care 32

Capital Works Programme 34

Ceremonies and Heritage Functions 35

HONOURS AND AWARDS 36

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE 37

ROLL OF MEMBERS OF THE ORDER IN WA 40

PROMOTIONS, ADMISSIONS AND COMMENDATIONS 43

Contents

St John Ambulance has been operating

in Western Australian for over 117 years.

From humble beginnings in 1892 when the

organisation was established and commenced

public fi rst aid training, through to 1922

when it took control of the state’s ambulance

services until the present day, the focus of

St John Ambulance has always been to serve

the community.

2008/09 was a year of great change in

St John Ambulance’s operating environment,

with the election of a new state government

and the impending impact of the global

fi nancial crisis. While changes in our operating

environment presented the organisation with

some signifi cant challenges, it has once again

been a year of signifi cant achievement with:

193,166 ambulance patients

throughout the state

The employment of 72 new ambulance

offi cers and paramedics

A record number of fi rst aid training students

44,271 school students trained as part

of the fi rst aid in schools initiative

886 career paramedics, communications

and patient transport offi cers trained

2,040 volunteer ambulance offi cers trained

Continued support from Lotterywest

Another very successful two-day Country

Conference with almost 400 participants

on the fi rst day and over 500 on the second

day, representing Sub Centre’s from

around the state

Further consolidation of our heritage

and ceremonial functions through the

“Friends of St John”.

As an organisation, we strive to ensure we are

modern and vibrant while at the same time

ensuring we function as one organisation.

While our focus is on providing a range of

humanitarian services, we celebrate with pride

our history and heritage.

St John Ambulance in Western Australia

is the most successful fi rst aid training

organisation within Australia. We provide a

world class ambulance service that is equal

or better in quality to the other Australian

ambulance services and with our signifi cant

volunteer contribution we ensure access to

ambulance services no matter where people

may reside throughout the vast state of

Western Australia.

ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 | 05

Chairman’s Introduction

To th e thousands of St John people, staff, volunteers and Friends of St John, thank you for your contribution towards th e continuing success of this great organisation.

04 | ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09

DR HARRY OXER

COUNCIL MEMBER

SHAYNE LESLIE

COUNCIL MEMBER

KEVIN YOUNG

COUNCIL MEMBER

JACK BARKER

COUNCIL MEMBER

IAN KAYE-EDDIE

COUNCIL MEMBER

MERLE ISBISTER

COUNCIL MEMBER

TONY AHERN

CEO

GERARD KING

CHAIRMAN

Organisational Structure - State Council

ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 | 0706 | ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09

Absent: Dr Richard Lugg and Dr John van der Post. Retired: Ken Ford.

ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 | 0908 | ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09

St John Ambulance in Western Australia

operates under a simple and transparent

governance structure. The governing body

of St John Ambulance in Western Australia is

the St John Ambulance Council. The Council

is responsible for all major policy decisions

affecting the Order of St John in Western

Australia. The legal entity for this body is

known as St John Ambulance Australia

(Western Australia) Inc.

In addition to the Council, St John Ambulance

in Western Australia has a property trustee.

This body is responsible for all real property

of St John Ambulance in Western Australia.

Its legal entity is an incorporated association

known as the “St John Ambulance Association

in Western Australia Inc”.

St John Ambulance primarily fulfi ls its mission

of serving the community through fi rst aid

and ambulance services. An important

characteristic of St John in Western Australia

is the degree to which it maintains its focus

on these core functions. In an environment of

ever increasing complexity, this focus is even

more important.

An expansion of the vision is:

St John Ambulance in Western Australia

is a charitable, not-for-profi t, humanitarian

organisation serving the community

through fi rst aid.

It achieves this by relieving sickness and

distress in the community by means of:

1. Providing high quality, cost effective

ambulance services.

2. Maximising the number of people who are

trained in fi rst aid.

3. Providing high quality fi rst aid services at

community events, gatherings and at times

of major incidents and disasters.

4. Maximising the number of fi rst aid products

(kits and defi brillators etc) readily available in

the community.

The majority of activities carried out by

St John Ambulance complement these four

areas. Additional activities are undertaken

specifi cally to raise funds to assist in the main

purpose ‘For the Service of Humanity’. Other

activities include humanitarian commitments

such as providing Community Care services

and raising funds for various Australian and

International ophthalmic projects.

In guiding the organisation on our journey

of serving humanity, we strive to follow the

eight strategic principles.

Organisational Structure

CONSERVATIVE IN FINANCE

ALLOWING MISTAKES

Strategic Direction

SENSITIVITY TO THE WORLD

VALUING PEOPLE

ORGANISED FOR LEARNING

ENCOURAGING NEW IDEAS

AWARENESS OF IDENTITY

SHAPING THE HUMAN COMMUNITY

STATE COUNCIL

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

AMBULANCE

SERVICES

EMERGENCY AMBULANCE

PATIENT TRANSPORT

INDUSTRIAL PARAMEDICS

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

FIRST AID

TRAINING

FIRST AID COURSES

KIT SALES AND

SERVICING

FIRST RESPONDER

FIRST AID

SERVICES

EVENT MANAGEMENT

FIRST AID SERVICE

PROVISION

COMMUNITY CARE

SERVICES

CONTACT WITH

LONELY ELDERLY

CEREMONIAL

AND HERITAGE

CEREMONIES

FRIENDS OF ST JOHN

FELLOWSHIP

FUNCTIONS FOR STAFF

AND VOLUNTEERS

PROPERTY TRUSTEE

ANTHONY SMITH

FINANCE DIRECTOR

TONY AHERN

CEO

DR GARRY WILKES

MEDICAL DIRECTOR

LEN FIORI

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR

ASHLEY MORRIS

TECHNICAL SERVICES DIRECTOR

DEBBIE WILSON

HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR

PETER KING

AMBULANCE SERVICE DIRECTOR

Western Australian Executive Team

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Under the governance of the State Council, “the one” St John organisation in Western Australia is managed and guided by the executive team.

Introduction

2008/09 has

been a particularly

challenging year for

St John Ambulance

in Western Australia.

A signifi cant portion

of the year was

dominated by the

negotiations for a wage increase for ambulance,

operations centre and patient transport staff.

There was signifi cant pressure on ambulance

services as a result of increasing strain on

the health system, and the latter part of the

year saw aspects of the St John model being

challenged by some. The global fi nancial crisis

that affected the West Australian economy also

had a signifi cant impact. Notwithstanding these

diffi culties, the organisation has achieved some

very good results.

The strength of the St John model in this

state is the provision of an integrated range

of pre-hospital services including training

the community in fi rst aid, providing fi rst

aid services at major community events,

establishing and coordinating community

fi rst responder systems, providing non

urgent patient transport services through to

the provision of emergency ambulance and

paramedic services.

Our performance indicators and national

benchmarking exercises clearly demonstrate

that we provide our services in an extremely

cost effective manner ensuring the Western

Australian community has high quality pre-

hospital services that are fi nancially sustainable.

First aid training of the general public remains

a key focus for the organisation due to our

knowledge that this is a critical component in

maximising a patient’s chance of survival and a

good recovery from sudden illness or injury. It

is very pleasing to report that we have taught

137,908 people throughout the year and

provided over 48,955 hours of voluntary fi rst

aid services to the community. In our 87th year

of providing the state’s ambulance services we

have seen ambulance activity grow by four per

cent and the continuing operation of 88 fi rst

responder systems.

The end of the fi nancial year saw the completion

of our fi ve year contract with the Department of

Health with all of the initiatives provided in the

contract successfully implemented.

Financial Position

A conservative approach to fi nance is one

of the eight strategic principles that guide

the organisation. 2008/09 has not seen the

successful fi nancial result we have become

accustomed to over the past few years,

particularly for the metropolitan region (State

Offi ce). A number of key factors during

the year resulted in a fi nancial outcome

signifi cantly worse than budgeted. The key

infl uences were:

Reduced revenue from ambulance

accounts including $1m lost revenue due

to industrial action.

Industrial paramedic revenue signifi cantly

down on budget and slightly less

than last year due to the delayed timing

of some contracts.

First aid training revenue well down

on budget and only slightly more than

the previous year.

Generating surpluses is critical to enable

the organisation to invest in the future with

an extensive capital works program. As a

result of the lack of an adequate surplus in

2008/09, a number of actions were taken

in the preparation of the 2009/10 budget to

ensure the organisation achieves the surpluses

necessary for the investment in future services

via the capital works program. The graph

below shows the trend with revenue and

expenditure over the past seven years and

the budgeted position for 2009/10.

Chief Executive Offi cer’s Report

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Ambulance

Vehicles

Other

Vehicles

Personnel Patients /

Customers

First Aid

Training

Ambulance

Cover Members Paid Staff Volunteers

Ambulance Service

Metropolitan 102 69 597 165 154,066 118,157

Country Career Sub Centres 44 11 80 384 22,252 10,966 12,567

Country Volunteer Sub Centres 286 14 24 2,221 16,848 8,785 26,584

Sub Total 432 94 701 2,770 193,166 137,908 39,151

Volunteer First Aid Service 27 - 742 6,432 -

Community Care - 120 319 -

Commandery Functions Committee - 5 -

Totals 432 121 701 3,637 199,917 137,908 39,151

State-wide Resourses and Activities for 2008/09 St John WA Metropolitan Region

110,000

100,000

90,000

80,000

70,000

60,000

50,000

40,000

02/03 03/04 04/05 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10

Total Revenue Total Expenditure

ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 | 15

Metropolitan Income Sources ($’000)

Ambulance Services $49,106 51%

Department of Health $22,767 24%

First Aid Training $8,032 8%

Industrial Paramedics Services $7,467 8%

Other $9,263 9%

Total $96,635

Country Income Sources ($’000)

Ambulance Services $16,130 67%

Department of Health $1,558 7%

First Aid Training $308 1%

Benefi t Fund $1,974 8%

Other $4,149 17%

Total $24,119

Key Financial Indicators

Income

Metropolitan $96,635

Country $24,119

Total $120,754

Expenditure

Metropolitan $97,767

Country $22,997

Total $120,764 Metropolitan Operating Expenditure ($’000)

Personnel $64,143 66%

Property & Vehicles $11,061 11%

Medical & First Aid $2,882 3%

Other $19,681 20%

Total $97,767

Country Operating Expenditure ($’000)

Personnel $8,717 38%

Property & Vehicles $5,269 23%

Medical & First Aid $1,901 8%

Other $7,110 31%

Total $22,997

Lotterywest

Lotterywest continues to provide support

for St John Ambulance with assistance

towards capital projects in volunteer country

centres and the volunteer fi rst aid services.

This year, we received a grant for $963,200

from Lotterywest. While the fi nancial support

provided by Lotterywest is important, even

more signifi cant is the signal this assistance

sends to our volunteers. It provides tangible

support to the hard working volunteers from

the rest of the community. The encouragement

and motivation this provides to our volunteers

cannot be overstated.

The 2009 Lotterywest grant is allocated

as follows:

Volunteer Country Ambulance

Ambulances $415,000

Buildings $320,500

Equipment $127,700

Volunteer First Aid Services

Vehicles $100,000

Th e encouragement and motivation this provides to our volunteers cannot be overstated.

14 | ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09

ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 | 1716 | ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09

Changing lives.

ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 | 1918 | ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09

Ambulance Service Quality

and Performance

St John Ambulance in Western Australia

prides itself on being an evidence-based

organisation. This means we try to thoroughly

analyse the best evidence available to

determine precisely what we should be doing

with pre-hospital care and to measure whether

we are actually doing things correctly. One

of the most important ways to monitor our

performance is to listen to what our customers

are saying about that performance. We

participate in an annual customer satisfaction

survey. Each state uses a standard survey

questionnaire. The results of the 2009 survey

are demonstrated below.

In addition to the satisfaction survey,

we closely monitor customer complaints.

The analysis of our customer complaints

is as follows.

2008/09 Complaints Summary

Nature of Complaint No.

Attitude 28

Treatment 27

Other 23

Total 78

The analysis shows that we average

approximately fi ve written complaints for every

10,000 cases in the metropolitan area.

The analysis of the 2008/09 complaints was:

CA

LL R

ESP

ON

SE

TIM

E

TREA

TMEN

T S

ATIS

FAC

TIO

N

PAR

AM

EDIC

S C

AR

E

CO

MM

UN

ICAT

ION

STA

FF A

SS

ISTA

NC

E

OVER

ALL

SAT

ISFA

CTI

ON

PAR

AM

EDIC

S S

ATIS

FAC

TIO

N

AM

BU

LAN

CE

AR

RIV

AL

TIM

E

TRIP

/ R

IDE

SAT

ISFA

CTI

ON

99

%

98

%

98

%

98

%

97

%

98

%

97

%

98

%

96

%

98

%

96

%

96

%

95

%

95

%

95

%

93

%

2009 Customer Satisfaction Survey WA

Compared to National Average

% satisfi ed or very satisfi edAustralian Ambulance Activities (Per 100 Population)

17

15

13

11

9

7

5

NSW VIC QLD WA SA TAS ACT NT AUS

Patients Transported Total Patients

Ambulance Service

Ambulance activity continued to increase

during 2008/09 with a total of 193,166 cases.

This represented an increase of four per cent

over the previous year. The 2008/09 workload

was spread throughout the state as follows:

No of Cases

Metropolitan paramedic crews 121,736

Metropolitan paramedic/volunteer[1] 8,716

Metropolitan patient transport crew 23,361

Metropolitan volunteer crew[2] 253

Metropolitan Total 154,066

Country paramedic crews 4,732

Country paramedic/volunteer 17,520

Country volunteer crews 16,848

Country Total 39,100

This analysis shows that across the whole

state, 91 per cent of cases had at least one

career paramedic (or career patient transport

offi cers) with nine per cent of cases being

performed by volunteer crews.

An important aspect of providing effective

ambulance services is to ensure that those

services are not being used unnecessarily for

inappropriate cases. One way in which we

monitor this aspect of our performance is to

compare ambulance activity on a per capita

basis with other States and Territories in

Australia. The 2009 Productivity Commission

Report on Government Services reported

ambulance activity which is indicated in the

graph below.

This analysis demonstrates that only the ACT

has fewer patients per capita than Western

Australia. Some of the larger jurisdictions

transport nearly twice as many patients to

hospital as Western Australia.

Metropolitan Activity Compared

with Country Activity

Paramedic or PTV Crew Attendance Compared

with Volunteer Crew Attendance

Complaints Per 10,000 Cases

98

/99

99

/00

00

/01

01

/02

02

/03

03

/04

04

/05

05

/06

06

/07

07

/08

08

/09

3.0

1

3.8

2

4.1

5

4.0

4

7.2

4

4.9

1.8

6

8.2

9

3.5

3

4.4

5

5.0

6

Western Australia

Australia

One of th e most important ways to monitor our performance is to listen to what our customers are saying about that performance.

Country

Activity (20%)

Metropolitan

Activity (80%)

Volunteer Crew

Attendance (9%)

Paramedic/PTV

Crew Attendance

(91%)

Response times are considered an

important indicator for all ambulance services.

Our response time targets are as follows:

90% of Emergency calls within 15 minutes

90% of Urgent calls within 25 minutes

90% of Non urgent calls within 60 minutes

Unfortunately we did not achieve the

response time targets during 2008/09.

For emergency calls we achieved 88.1 per

cent within 15 minutes. For urgent calls 86.1

per cent within 25 minutes and for non

urgent calls 79.6 per cent within 60 minutes.

The combination of signifi cant increases in

ramp time and activity growth has meant

that our “response capacity” has deteriorated

to levels that make the achievement of

the response time targets impossible. In

early 2009, a submission was made to the

Department of Health regarding increasing

our response capacity to levels closer to

those in other Australian states that would

see us able to achieve the response time

targets. As at the end of the fi nancial year,

there has been no commitment by the

Department or Government to this required

increase in response capacity.

Currently, most ambulance services

around Australia report response times

where the clock starts running once the

call information has been gained by the

ambulance call taker. Over the next few

years, Australian Ambulance Services will

all move to commencing the response time

clock from the time the call taker starts

taking the call detail. The graph on right

shows the response times for the past fi ve

years using both methods.

St John Ambulance operates a Patient

Transport Service in Perth and this service

plays a pivotal role within the total ambulance

operation. In 2008/09 we had 23 PTVs in

operation, responding to 23,361 cases.

ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 | 2120 | ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09

1 TWO ROCKS

MERRIWA

JOONDALUP

WARWICK LANDSDALE

OSBORNE PARK MORLEY

CENTRAL

MUNDARING

WUNDOWIE

KEWDALE

GOSNELLS

RIVERTON

MELVILLE

SERPENTINEARMADALE

JANDAKOT

KWINANA

COCKBURN

ROCKINGHAM

SECRET HARBOUR

FREMANTLE

VICTORIA PARK

KALAMUNDA

KENSINGTON

MOUNT

NEDLANDS

MIDLAND

11

1 1

1 1

1 1

1 1

1

1 1

1

1

1

1

1

2

1 2

1 2 1 2

2

1

3 1

2 1

1

4

2 2 6

1 4 4

1 2 1

1

1

2 1

1

1 3 1

1

Crew TypeMonday to Friday Saturday and Sunday

Day Shift Night Shift Day Shift Night Shift

24 Hour Paramedic Crews* 28 28 28 28

Day Shift Paramedic Crews 20 0 9 0

Patient Transport Crews 15 2 4 2

Volunteer Ambulance Crews 1 1 1 1

Helicopter Critical Care Crews 1 1 1 1

Totals 65 32 43 32

The following resources are rostered each day in the metropolitan area.

Note: Figures represent the number of crews stationed at each location.

*Start and fi nish times for day shift paramedic crews and patient transport crews

are staggered so that some of these resources are available in the evening. The fi gures above

indicate the minimum to maximum resource levels that currently apply.

24 Hour Ambulance Day Shift Ambulance Volunteer Ambulance HelicopterPatient Transport Crew

00

/01

01

/02

02

/03

03

/04

04

/05

05

/06

06

/07

07

/08

08

/09

90

.5

90

.5

89

.0

89

.4

88

.9

89

.0

90

.2

88

.4

88

.1 Emergency Calls Responded

to within 15 Minutes

Urgent Calls Responded

to within 25 Minutes

00

/01

01

/02

02

/03

03

/04

04

/05

05

/06

06

/07

07

/08

08

/09

88

.8

88

.8

87

.2

88

.0

87

.5

86

.9

89

.5

87

.0

86

.1

Non-urgent Calls Responded

to within 60 Minutes

00

/01

01

/02

02

/03

03

/04

04

/05

05

/06

06

/07

07

/08

08

/09

88

.9

88

.9

86

.7

88

.1

85

.5

87

.4

91

.3

83

.2

79

.6

First Keystroke Response Time

Priority ‘1’ Calls Only

01

/02

02

/03

03

/04

04

/05

05

/06

06

/07

07

/08

08

/09

Call Response Time

Traditional Reported Response Time

11

.04 12

.32

12

.5

12

.09

11

.57

11

.34

11

.5

11

.48

22 | ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09

Operations Centre

The Operations Centre is the hub of

ambulance operations throughout the State

of Western Australia. The staff in this facility

work around the clock to ensure that calls

for ambulances are promptly answered and

dispatched as quickly as possible. Each call is

prioritised based on the information supplied

by the caller.

Each day the operations centre receives

in excess of 1,000 calls for ambulance

assistance. During 2008/09 a review of

staffi ng levels identifi ed the need for further

staff to be appointed to manage increased

call volumes. Education programs for new

staff have been reviewed and will allow

an improved level of mentoring while new

recruits are introduced to the operations

centre environment.

Computer aided dispatch technologies play

a vital role in timely ambulance dispatch. This

year our current technology was reviewed

and compared to similar technology used

internationally. As a result, enhancements to

our existing systems are scheduled for next

year and will play a vital role in ensuring that

response times are minimised.

Distribution of ambulances to hospitals

remains a critical component of the

Operations Centre role and is fundamental

in minimising ambulance ramping at Perth

metropolitan hospitals.

Emergency Rescue Helicopter

The Rescue Helicopter Service, RAC

Rescue 1 completed 411 missions during

2008/09. The Helicopter Service is managed

by the Fire and Rescue Authority (FESA) with

St John Ambulance providing the critical care

paramedics and tasking the service through

our Belmont operations centre.

Metropolitan Workload

96

/97

97

/98

98

/99

99

/00

00

/01

01

/02

02

/03

03

/04

04

/05

05

/06

06

/07

07

/08

08

/09

87

,17

1

93

,02

3

99

,35

6

11

1,6

68

11

3,3

72

11

5,6

08

11

4,0

16

11

7,2

09

12

3,5

29

12

8,8

16

13

8,9

96

14

8,1

85

15

4,0

66

Helicopter Missions

03

/04

04

/05

05

/06

06

/07

07

/08

08

/09

94

19

0

21

5

28

8

43

9

41

1

Country Workload

96

/97

97

/98

98

/99

99

/00

00

/01

01

/02

02

/03

03

/04

04

/05

05

/06

06

/07

07

/08

08

/09

10

,00

0

10

,91

9

10

,69

0

10

,93

4

11

,89

5

12

,79

2

14

,39

6

15

,60

3

16

,56

8

19

,73

8

20

,96

7

22

,28

5

22

,24

7

13

,63

6

13

,16

0

13

,58

6

13

,41

4

12

,66

2

14

,30

8

13

,898

13

,99

9

14,3

35

12

,69

5

13

,61

6

15

,35

2

16

,98

4Country (Volunteer)

Country (Career)

24 | ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 | 25

Volunteer Country Services

Western Australia has the world’s largest land

mass covered by a single ambulance service.

The challenge, as with other areas of service

provision, is not the size of the state but rather

the sparse population spread across the

2.5 million square kilometers that is Western

Australia. With 90 per cent of the population

living within 200 km of Perth, it is only possible

to provide good quality ambulance services

throughout the entire state with a signifi cant

volunteer contribution.

The St John model is based on a clear vision

of the most appropriate service delivery model.

Basically, there are two choices: maximise

response locations or maximise qualifi cation

and experience. A fully paid paramedic model is

based on the maximisation of qualifi cations and

experience. The St John model is based on

maximising response locations to get the best

possible response time and patient outcome.

There are 2,567 volunteer ambulance offi cers

and 105 volunteer fi rst aid trainers providing

these vital services. In addition, there are many

other community volunteers providing additional

support services at country Sub Centres.

Country Sub Centres attended 39,100

ambulance cases and trained 19,751 fi rst aid

students during the year. This continues to be

an amazing contribution and is a credit to the

community spirit of Western Australians.

Our volunteer numbers are a testament

to the sustainability of the volunteer model

in Western Australia. The general public

remain prepared to provide their time to

their community through volunteer activities

with St John. Our recruitment and retention

efforts remain focused at a local level.

We continue to maintain a census of volunteer

numbers and ambulance activity levels

in each and every Sub Centre, and work

closely with Sub Centres on specifi c

recruitment practices aimed at maintaining

appropriate volunteers levels.

The modernisation of the country fl eet of

ambulances continues to progress well. There

are now 169 Mercedes ambulances in the

country with fi rm orders for another 19 new

and 35 second-hand Mercedes vehicles. The

Mercedes vehicles are living up to expectations

and their popularity in country areas is very high.

The provision of second hand metropolitan

ambulances to country centres without any

fi nancial outlay by the centre remains a popular

programme and is being well supplemented

with the more fi nancially established Sub

Centres purchasing new vehicles.

The annual country conference again proved

to be an outstanding success with almost

400 participants attending on the fi rst day

and over 500 participants in attendance on

the second day. The event was followed by

the successful annual St John Dinner/Dance

which attracted over 700 people from across

every area of the St John organisation.

Operational Staff Training

St John Ambulance is a Registered Training

Organisation (RTO) under the Australian

Quality Training Framework. As an RTO the

organisation is subject to regular external

auditing requirements. The training of

paramedics, volunteers and Operations

Centre staff is the key to the provision of

high quality ambulance services in our state.

There is a continuing process of re-evaluation

and refi nement of the ways in which we

deliver training. Current training for

operational staff consists of:

Operations Centre

A number of courses provided to the

Operations Centre staff including:

Certifi cate III in Ambulance communications

(Call taking) HLT31907

Certifi cate IV in Ambulance

Communications HLT41107

Annual Refresher Training for Operations

Centre staff

Transport Offi cers

Transport Offi cers undertake routine patient

transport for low acuity patients mainly within

the Perth metropolitan area. Transport Offi cers

complete a certifi cate III in Non-emergency

Client Transport (HLT30207).

Volunteer Ambulance Offi cers

A progressive training package for Volunteer

Ambulance Offi cers is provided. The course

components are units of competency for the

Certifi cate III in Basic Health Care – HLTT33107.

The training of Volunteer Ambulance Offi cers is

carried out by career Ambulance Paramedics

who have been accredited with formal training

and assessment qualifi cations. Within the team

of nine Trainers, there are six Regional Training

Coordinators who are responsible for ensuring

that the training requirements and requests

of all Volunteer Sub-Centres are achieved as

effi ciently and as quickly as possible.

The following courses are currently offered

to Volunteers involved in any on-road

ambulance duties:

Introductory Ambulance Care Course

Primary Ambulance Care Course

Advanced Ambulance Care

Driver Training

Skills and Knowledge Maintenance Program

Cardiac Monitor / Defi brillators

Skills Update Training

Paramedics

St John Ambulance (WA), in partnership

with Edith Cowan University (ECU) has

collaborated towards delivering an innovative

model of education whereby suitable

Paramedical Science candidates are

recruited by St John Ambulance (WA) to

study an undergraduate Bachelor of Science

(Paramedical Science) degree through ECU.

Students are exposed to a unique/ hands-on

course structure that sees them complete

course work through the ECU Paramedical

Science degree, followed by an internship

with St John Ambulance (WA) to become

a qualifi ed St John Ambulance Paramedic.

The distinctive structure of this degree

sees students complete an unpaid study

component in their fi rst year at ECU. After

successful completion of this component,

they become a paid St John Ambulance

employee whilst they complete the remainder

of their degree qualifi cations.

This innovative model of education

prepares students for a dynamic healthcare

environment, inclusive of the public

health, social and clinical aspects of

paramedical science. Students are given

practical hands-on learning that gives them

the confi dence, skills and knowledge to

hit the ground running.

Th e challenge is not th e size of th e state but rath er th e sparse population spread across th e 2.5 million square kilom eters that is Western Australia.

2008 Sub Centre Conference.

26 | ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09

Year One (Pre-employment - Unpaid)

One year full-time or two years part-time

university study.

Many of the units are available externally for

those located in remote areas.

Two week full-time driver training course.

Some candidates may be exempt from

some or all of the fi rst year units, depending

on prior university study.

Year Two (Employed)

Years two and three comprise a combination

of on the job training and university studies

both in class and externally.

Full-time Induction Course held at St John

State Offi ce in Belmont comprising a

combination of university units together with

additional organisational components.

At the conclusion of the Induction Course

staff commence on road duties and are

allocated an Ambulance Paramedic tutor.

External units and study block late in the year.

Year Three (Employed)

Working full-time with an Ambulance

Paramedic whilst completing external studies.

Year three may include full-time study blocks

completing units of the degree program.

Those successfully completing this year,

and having successfully completed and

passed all components of the degree,

will be eligible to receive the Bachelor of

Science (Paramedical Science) from ECU.

Year Four (Employed)

An internship working with a senior offi cer

to allow further clinical experience to

be gained prior to attaining the level of

Ambulance Paramedic.

This paramedic education model is seen as

one of the best in Australia. The unique aspect

of this model is that students are selected as

a part of the employment selection process.

The advantages of the St John Ambulance/

Edith Cowan university model is that it produces

“work-ready” paramedics and maintains a strong

link between the supply of paramedic students

and the demand for additional on-road staff.

Professional Development

The professional development seminars

conducted by our Medical Director Dr Garry

Wilkes and our Medical Consultant Dr Harry

Oxer remain very popular. 21 Professional

Development Seminars were conducted

during the 2008/2009 period, with just short

of 600 attendees.

This paramedic education model is seen as one of th e best in Australia.

Community Services

The Community Services Division has

responsibility for all of the organisation’s

customer service activities, other than

ambulance. St John Ambulance is a

humanitarian organisation that maintains a

focus on charitable activities as well as other

commercial activities. All of the organisation’s

commercial activities are aimed at either

fulfi lling a humanitarian service themselves

or providing fi nancial capacity to deliver

charitable services.

The delivery of fi rst aid training and the sale of

fi rst aid and allied products constitute both a

major part of our charitable and humanitarian

activities as well as commercial activities.

First Aid Services and Training

Our growth in fi rst aid student numbers

continues. While the number of fee paying

students was affected by the economic

downturn and remained stable at the previous

year’s level, we saw phenomenal growth in

our charitable fi rst aid training programs. In

particular, the fi rst aid in schools program grew

substantially. The fi rst aid in schools program

ensures we maintain an appropriate balance

between commercial and charitable activities

within our fi rst aid training effort.

We commenced our fi rst aid in schools

program in 2006/07 and trained 14,581

students. In 2007/08 we increased that

number to 19,755. In 2008/09 the number

grew by 124 per cent with 44,271 school

students being taught fi rst aid.

Our total fi rst aid student numbers grew from

118,554 in 2007/08 to 137,908 in 2008/09.

While the growth in the total number of

students exceeded our target for the year,

our fee paying students were below target

and in the latter part of the fi nancial year our

priority and marketing focus has been shifted

towards growing these student numbers.

While the downturn in the economy has

signifi cantly impacted fee paying students,

Western Australia is likely to see a signifi cant

improvement in the economy over the next

couple of years and we will be aiming to use

this to continue the solid growth across all

areas of fi rst aid training.

In Western Australia our total student numbers

for 2008/09 represent 6.3 per cent of the

state’s population. This has grown from 5.6

per cent last year and from 3.2 per cent in

2003. While the additional student numbers

are pleasing, they are secondary to our broader

objective of seeing one member of every

household taught fi rst aid and all children being

taught basic fi rst aid prior to leaving school and

or obtaining their drivers’ licences.

2008/09 First Aid Students by Course Type

Course Type Students

Senior First Aid 54,289

Schools Project 44,271

Other First Aid 12,513

Basic First Aid 13,862

Introductory First Aid 4,925

Advanced First Aid 3,111

CPR123 1,852

Awareness First Aid 1,458

Child First Aid 1,060

First Aid Trainer 567

Total 137,908

First Aid Students Trained Per Capita

02/03 3.2%

03/04 3.5%

04/05 3.9%

05/06 4.0%

06/07 5.3%

07/08 5.5%

08/09 6.3%

ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 | 27

Paramedic Education Program

28 | ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 | 29

First Responder

The fi rst responder system was designed

and introduced in an effort to improve people’s

chances of survival from cardiac arrest

by making oxygen and defi brillation available

in those vital minutes before the arrival

of an ambulance.

The system enables community groups

to play a vital role in this important area

of pre-hospital care. Now in its eight year of

operation there are 88 responder systems

in place that collectively were activated

on 258 occasions during 2008/09.

Industrial Paramedic Services

Over the past few years the organisation has

enjoyed signifi cant growth in our Industrial

Paramedic Services. The global fi nancial crisis

has resulted in a deceleration in this business,

and our revenue for 2008/09 did not grow to

the extent that it had been budgeted. Total

revenue for the year was almost $7.5 million.

This area of the organisation’s activities

provides vital funding that is poured back

into the provision of our ambulance and fi rst

aid services. As a result of the lower than

anticipated revenue for 2008/09 some of our

capital works projects had to be deferred.

Currently we have 11 Industrial Paramedic

contracts covering 15 sites and employing

34 industrial paramedics and 5 Registered

Nurses. While demand for these services

was not as strong as expected in 2008/09,

negotiations underway at the end of the

fi nancial year indicate a return to positive

growth in 2009/10.

These services play an important part

in the integrated model of pre-hospital care

delivered by St John Ambulance. Not only

are they a source of revenue for the

organisation but they also provide a vital

service by placing highly qualifi ed and

competent paramedics into remote areas

of the state where access to ambulance

services would otherwise be very limited.

Th e system enables community groups to play a vital role in this important area of pre-hospital care.

RIGS AND VESSELS OFFSHORE

BROOME MEDIVAC

REP5 RAIL - PORT HEDLAND

REP5 RAIL - TURNER BRIDGE

REP5 RAIL - REDMONT

YANDI

YANDI

OREBODY 25JIMBLEBAR

JINAYRINEWMAN

MURRIN MURRIN

PERTH

RAVENSTHORP

MURRAY BASIN DEVELOPMENT

BARROW ISLAND NELSON POINTFINUCANEISLAND

CAPE LAMBERTCAPE PRESTON

THEVANARD ISLAND

Volunteer First Aid Services

A vital component of the integrated pre-

hospital care services provided by the

organisation is the provision of volunteer fi rst

aid services (VFAS). VFAS provides fi rst aid

services at major public events and continues

to be recognised as the premier provider of

these services in Western Australia.

We have fi ve major objectives in the way we

manage this area:

The highest quality fi rst aid training.

Good quality vehicles and equipment

necessary to deliver a high quality service.

A modern and professional image.

For personnel to enjoy their involvement

with St John Ambulance.

Suffi cient numbers to meet the community’s

demands for service.

While we have for many years been successful

in achieving the fi rst four of these objectives,

we do not have suffi cient volunteer numbers

to meet the community’s demand for our

services. During 2008/09 this area of the

organisation was signifi cantly restructured

to bring it more into line with contemporary

governance standards and ensure the service

was designed in a way that it would provide

greater appeal to enable the recruitment of

more volunteers.

A key component of the restructure is the

development of the Divisional Manager position

and a signifi cant increase in the management

and support functions provided by the

Executive Offi cer and the administrative team.

In addition to reviewing support structures,

we have reviewed the training and qualifi cation

goals for VFAS members. This review

has refocused the training effort to ensure

a match with the qualifi cations required for

the services we provide.

Activity

In 2008/09 VFAS completed 48,955 hours of

public duties and treated 6,432 patients.

Training

The training for VFAS Personnel has

continued to be a priority. Four new member

qualifi cations have been implemented:-

Trainee First Aider

First Aider

Senior First Aider

Advanced First Aider

In implementing the four new levels a Trainer

networking program has been developed to

support the training.

2009 has been a consolidation period to

ensure our members’ training requirements

and our service delivery remain a high priority

for Volunteer First Aid Services in W.A.

First Aid Competitions

First Aid competitions are continuing to provide

an avenue for our members to display their

First Aid skills in a competitive environment.

Whilst it is challenging, it is also an opportunity

to have fun and enjoy practicing First Aid

skills. Members competed in the State

championships and then the winners had the

opportunity to attend the National competitions

in Brisbane. Once again our state competed

at the highest level, coming second in both the

team and individual National competitions.

Cadets

Cadet Divisions continue to recruit and expand

their activities and at the same time align

themselves closely with our adult Divisions.

The alignment with adult divisions has involved

creating additional opportunities for both

Cadets and adults to work together in providing

First Aid services at major events throughout

the year. Our focus is on encouraging the 15 to

18 year old Cadets to remain with St John as

they progress towards the adult divisions.

01

/02

02

/03

03

/04

04

/05

05

/06

06

/07

07

/08

08

/09

41

2

42

6

46

7

51

6

48

3

47

1

48

4

47

1

Adult Membership

30 | ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 | 31

Whilst it is challenging, it is also an opportunity to have fun and enjoy practicing First Aid skills.

32 | ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 | 33

The organisation endeavours to try to

make the work of our staff and volunteers

as pleasant as possible and wherever we

can create a fun environment. One way this

is done is through our annual Christmas

function. The most important aspect of

this event is the opportunity to thank our

members. This year, in keeping with tradition,

special presentations were made to a number

of our volunteers for length of service. The

following awards were also made:

National Awards

Edwina Ong

Margaret Holland

State / Meritorious Awards

Douglas Gildersleeve

Jane Righton

Don Pederick

Mary Perreau

Beverly Hall

Judy Duckham

Leonard Sutton

Kevin Young

The Chairman’s Award 2008

Mrs Dell Greenwell

Community Care

St John Ambulance is involved in humanitarian

activities outside of the ‘fi rst aid’ sphere. One

of these important activities involves making

a contribution to the well being of the elderly

sector in our community, who may be feeling

lonely and isolated. Our Community Care

Service addresses this objective.

A dedicated group of volunteers care for

the lonely, frail, aged and disabled through

a home visiting programme. While it is a

relatively small team they are a very hard

working group of people who are extremely

dedicated to this service. They receive great

pleasure and satisfaction from bringing

companionship and providing assistance to

many needy people in our community.

Community Care continues to maintain a

strong profi le in the community through

events such as Volunteer Week, Seniors

Week and Have a Go Day, CWA meetings,

autumn clubs, Church groups and other

community based organisations. The branch

is well recognised and maintains a reputation

of reliability and professionalism.

Volunteers Voluntary Hours Recipients Telephone Calls Kilometers

2004/05 94 9,765 862 2,459 82,729

2005/06 95 9,358 738 1,659 61,434

2006/07 104 9,647 289 2,183 67,888

2007/08 121 9,335 341 3,543 73,449

2008/09 120 6,683 319 2,309 42,286

Activities

Th ey are a very hard working group of people who are extrem ely dedicated to this service.

34 | ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 | 35

Capital Works Programme

During the year $8.06 million was invested

into the organisation’s capital program. This

investment comprised of a signifi cant information

technology replacement and upgrade program,

4 new Patient Transport Vehicles, 36 new

Ambulance Vehicles including three 4WDs

and 28 other fl eet vehicles. This high level of

investment in the vehicle fl eet has a positive

impact on our country centres by allowing

ex metropolitan Mercedes ambulances to be

provided to country centres virtually cost free.

The organisation continued its signifi cant

investment in the equipment replacement

programs including defi brillators, stretchers,

communications and other vital equipment

across the whole of the organisation.

In addition the organisation has an ongoing

building upgrade program to ensure the best

facilities are available to staff, students and

volunteers for the delivery of ambulance and

fi rst aid training services.

The capital buildings that were completed or

in progress during the year were:

Construction Completed 2008/09

Mandurah Ambulance Depot and

refurbishment of the Training Centre

Bassendean VFAS and Training Centre

Due for Completion 2009/10

Bunbury Training Centre extensions

Due to commence in 2009/10

Joondalup Ambulance Depot and

Training Centre

The following capital projects are at

various stages in the planning process for

the period 2010 to 2017:

Morley Ambulance Depot

Replacement of Nedlands

Ambulance Depot

Murdoch Ambulance Depot and

Training Centre – Fiona Stanley Hospital

Northam Ambulance Depot and

Training Centre

Belmont Supply and Distribution Centre

Armadale Ambulance Depot and

Training Centre

Broome Ambulance Depot and

Training Centre

Busselton Sub Centre Extensions

Kalgoolie Ambulance Depot and

Training Centre

Ceremonies and Heritage Functions

St John Ambulance in Western Australia owes

its success to the dedication of thousands of

people, both staff and volunteers, who built

the foundations for the organisation we have

today. We honour and respect those people

and the contribution they have made through

our ceremonial and heritage functions.

As a Christian based organisation, one of

the traditions we maintain is the annual

St John church service held on the Sunday

on or immediately after St John the Baptist

day. This year the service was held at

St Hilda’s school chapel. The Knight

Commander, the Governor Dr Ken Michael

was in attendance and conducted the

enrolment of 28 cadets into St John.

The Ophthalmic Branch, a group of dedicated

volunteers, continue their activities to

raise funds for the Eye hospital in Jerusalem.

This year, their activities raised a total

of $13,045 which combined with received

donations of $40,480 ensured a total of

$53,525 was sent to this worthy cause.

One of the highlights of the organisation’s

ceremonial calendar is the annual investiture

where St John Ambulance is able to thank

those who contribute signifi cantly to the

continuing good work of the Order in Western

Australia. This years Investiture was held in

April 2009. The Governor, Dr Ken Michael

received 31 recipients for promotion and

presentation of awards. Another busy

and dedicated group of volunteers in

the organisation are those involved with

fellowship. This group meets regularly and

maintains contact with retired volunteers and

ensures those that are frail or unwell maintain

their contact with the organisation.

The Friends of St John concept aims to create

a forum for people who may have had an

involvement with St John in the past, either as

a volunteer or staff member and who want to

continue that involvement. The group is also

open to people who may never have had a

previous involvement but would just like to be

a part of the organisation. The Friends of St

John meet quarterly.

St John in Western Australia is grateful to all of

those who continue to provide a link between

our proud heritage and our ongoing service to

the community including our Librarian Dr Edith

Khangure and the museum volunteers, the

ladies auxiliary, members of fellowship and the

Friends of St John.

Again this year we have sadly seen the

passing of a number of members of the Order

and their presence will be deeply missed.

Please see a list of obituaries in the Roll of

members on the fi nal page of this report.

St John in Western Australia is grateful to all of those who continue to provide a link between our proud h eritage and our ongoing service to th e community.

Bassendean VFAS and Training Centre.

36 | ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 | 37

Ambulance Service Medal

The Ambulance Service Medal is issued

by the Federal Government as part of the

Australia Day Honours.

Michael James Jack

Evelyn Brady

Brian McLuckie

National Medal

The National Medal is awarded to people

who have given 15 years service to the

defence forces, police, fi re or ambulance

services. A clasp to the medal is given for

each 10 years additional service.

National Medal

Danny Barron

William Devine

Rodney Griffi n

Christine Hunter

Michael Peter McDonald

Christopher Oakes

Clifford Shanhun

Wayne Tognolini

Murray Woodward

First Clasp

Geoffrey John Byrne

Brian McLuckie

Alan Stephen Tolley

Service Medal

The Service Medal of the Order is awarded

for 12 years voluntary service within St John

Ambulance Australia. A bar is added to the

Service Medal for every fi ve years of service

thereafter (including VFAS recipients).

Service Medal

Arnold Bogaers

Lisa Chrystal

Trudy Clothier

Clifford Fishlock

Carol Gale

Andrew Fraser Gooder

Kelly Ann Green

Gary Guelfi

Enid Dixon Home

Catherine Ivey

Matthew Edward Jaskolski

Heather Jongedyk

Terry Lamey

Heather Malacari

Linden Mandry

Terence Richard Mason

Maureen Mortimer

Karen Mullins

Mark Mullins

Jan Murray

Barbara June Provan

Carol Anne Reed

Debra May Rhodes

Christine Robinson

Jeffrey Rowland

David James Saunders

Margaret Hazel Smith

Pauline Smoker

Theresa Wilks

Judith Williams

First Bar

Arnold Bogaers

Robert Clarke

Damian Peter Davini

Clifford Fishlock

Andrew Fraser Gooder

Gary Guelfi

Annabel Knapp

Vince McKenney

Owen Penrhyn Randell

Michael Robertson

Wendy Robertson

Pauline Smoker

Dirk Christopher Sunley

Michael Taylor

Judith Williams

Second Bar

Clifford Fishlock

Douglas James Gildersleeve

Terrence Gladish

Andrew Fraser Gooder

Norma Winifred Merritt

Stephen Metcalf

Arthur Arnold Putland

Michael Robertson

David James Saunders

Andrea Marie Williams

Judith Williams

Third Bar

Robert William Balloch

Robert Christopher Gibson

Douglas James Gildersleeve

Patricia Naomi Hatch

Ronald Vaughan Knapp

Arthur Arnold Putland

David James Saunders

Fourth Bar

Neil Crofts

Charles Gerschow

Douglas James Gildersleeve

Paul Jones

Ronald Vaughan Knapp

David James Saunders

Julie Anne Watkins

Fifth Bar

Brian Kenneth Hampson

Ronald Vaughan Knapp

David James Saunders

Carole Schelfhout

Brian Tripp

Sixth Bar

Frank Barnett Murray

Seventh Bar

Otto Gerschow

Sub Centre of the Year

Moora Sub Centre

Volunteer of the Year

Rob Stedman, Brookton Sub Centre

Trainer of the Year

Ellis Godwin, Brunswick Sub Centre

The Ambulance Service Medal recipients, Michael

James Jack, Evelyn Brady and Brian McLuckie.

Honours and Awards Historical Perspective

A Continuing Journey

The St John Ambulance Association was

established in England in 1877 to teach fi rst

aid. It recognised the great need for effective

fi rst aid training to ease the suffering caused

by increasing workplace accidents, transport

and domestic accidents occurring in a rapidly

industrialising and urbanising society.

In 1887 the St John Ambulance Brigade was

created. This was an organisation of uniformed

disciplined members with a military style

hierarchy. Its primary purpose was to provide

volunteer trained fi rst aiders who would give

basic medical assistance at large public events

and during emergencies.

The ambulance movement quickly spread

arriving in Perth in 1892. It was always

envisaged as a state service and within a

decade centres were established in Kalgoorlie,

Boulder and Fremantle. There would be a

steady expansion of sub centres throughout

the state from this time. A men’s division of

the St John Ambulance Brigade was formed

in 1904 whilst the fi rst women’s nursing

division was founded in 1913. Many of these

volunteers served in the First World War

including the women who joined Voluntary Aid

Detachments working in military hospitals.

In the nineteenth century transportation to

hospital was a personal responsibility. From

1902 to 1922 many ambulance corps emerged

including the Fire Brigade, Police, Railways

and the Fremantle Port Authority. They were

uncoordinated, geographically restricted and

gradually overwhelmed by public demand.

The St John Ambulance Association was

seen as the logical choice to take over. It did

this in 1922 from a building in Murray Street

offering transportation of accident cases and,

for the fi rst time, medical cases also. In its fi rst

year some 1873 patients were transported

in 3 ambulances by 4 paid offi cers. Standard

ambulance equipment included bandages,

wooden splints, oil and brandy.

The service spread slowly throughout the

1920s and 1930s. Finances were never easy

and the depression years were particularly

diffi cult. St John formed partnerships with

many charitable institutions including the

Lotteries commission, APEX and Rotary which

continue to the present time. By 1938 –

1939 the number of patients transported was

5174 by 6 offi cers in 4 vans.

Geraldton Ambulance Service in the 1930’s.

38 | ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 | 39

Growth in the St John Ambulance Brigade

was steady. By 1939 the Western Australian

District had 41 divisions with 1072 volunteer

members. Cadet units also commenced, the

fi rst being at Fremantle in 1936.

The Second World War had a great impact on

all branches of St John Ambulance. First Aid

training experienced an enormous increase

and 41,962 certifi cates were issued between

1939 – 1945. Similar growth in the Brigade

saw new divisions registered although some

went into recession as members joined the

armed services. For those remaining, St John

members joined Voluntary Aid Detachments,

the men deployed in Air Raid Patrols and

some women in the Army Medical Service.

In 1940 the organisation moved to Wellington

Street. For the Ambulance Service the

war years and even after meant extreme

hardship with fewer offi cers, petrol rationing,

problems in obtaining vehicles and spare

parts. Growth did continue albeit slowly.

In 1959 almost 12000 patients were

transported by the Ambulance Service.

There were 72 country sub centres.

The 1960s and 1970s saw major changes

in St John’s governance and funding matching

the rapid expansion in the state’s population

and development - more patients transported,

more vehicles, greater mileage, increasing

overheads, increasingly sophisticated

equipment and electronic communications.

Fleets of Dodge and then Ford ambulances

could be found in Perth and throughout

the state. Growth in the number of country

sub centres was steady using volunteer

ambulance offi cers in most of them.

From 1977 – 1980 St John also operated

an aerial service throughout the south west of

the state, alleviating many of the long

road trips to hospital.

Equipping ambulances now became a

specialised branch of medical technology

with ambulance and workshop personnel

working together on evaluation committees

assessing and introducing new equipment.

These included innovations such as the

Easton Bandage System supported by both

ambulance offi cers and St John management.

Extended training of ambulance offi cers saw a

new discipline of paramedic medicine emerge

as certifi cate and diploma courses evolved to

our current full university paramedic degree

course. Comprehensive training modules were

developed for country volunteers.

Management also had to keep pace with this

changing scene and a shift to professional

management developed in the mid 1970s. The

Ambulance Service moved to new premises in

Belmont in 1979, whilst the Brigade remained

at Wellington Street until 2003. St John was

now operating from 116 sub centres around

Western Australia. Consequently it ceased to

be a medical charity and became a non-profi t

organisation combining features of a public

utility, a business corporation and a voluntary

association. Its funding became slightly

more reliable with an ambulance contribution

scheme and government subsidies overtaking

donations and fund raising events.

Whilst the Ambulance Service grew during

the 1980s the Brigade did not. The Brigade’s

strength had peaked in 1961 with a membership

of some 2400 but subsequently declined. Most

volunteer organisations experienced similar

declining numbers at this time refl ecting the

changing life styles of the population. With

reduced numbers many Brigade divisions

combined the previously separate ambulance

and nursing groups. A review of St John

throughout Australia in 1987 resulted in a new

national structure and the Brigade became the

Operations Branch.

A number of events highlighted the 1990s.

A new branch was formed in 1995 called

Community Care, its objective being to

meet the needs of the lonely elderly in the

community. Other developments in pre-hospital

care included the introduction of an industrial

paramedic service and expansion in fi rst aid

training in both numbers taught and initiatives

such as the First Responder system.

In 2009 St John continues its pre-hospital

care service to the community in teaching

fi rst aid and offering fi rst aid services. This is

an essential complement to the ambulance

service, providing a fi rst level of response prior

to the arrival of St John Paramedics.

The Operations Branch was renamed the

Volunteer First Aid Service in 1999/2000 and

continues in providing fi rst aid services at

community, cultural and sporting events.

Their activity is another fi rst level of response

in the event of illness and injury. The old quasi

military structure has been replaced with

professional career administration, divisional

managers and offi cers.

In the twenty fi rst century St John in Western

Australia is a cohesive modern organisation.

The highly trained and well equipped First

Aid Trainers, Ambulance Paramedics,

Volunteer Ambulance Offi cers and Volunteer

First Aiders wear the same coloured green

uniform throughout the state. Ambulances

have changed to a new Mercedes model with

a green design. All administration has been

located in the state centre at Belmont since

2006 and St John Ambulance continues to

pursue its humanitarian vision in new ways

with twenty fi rst century technology across

Western Australia.

Bibliography

Howie-Willis, I, I992. St John, Ambulances,

and Western Australia: a Centenary Anthology

1892-1992, SJAA (WA) Inc. Perth

St John Annual reports 1898-2008, SJAA, Perth

Th e 1960s and 1970s saw major changes in St John’s governance and funding matching th e rapid expansion in th e state’s population and development.

Left to Right: Melville Ambulance Division 1970’s;

Demonstration of a bandage system, June 1976;

Equipment presentation in Morley July 1982; modern

day Ambulance Service.

40 | ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 | 41

Knights of Grace

Mr William John Barker CD

Mr Robert Blizard

Mr Desmond Ernest Franklin BEM

Dr Thomas Hamilton AM

Mr Ian Lindsay Kaye-Eddie ASM

Dr Alan Joseph King AM

Mr Gerard Arthur King

His Excellency Dr Ken Michael AC

Wing Cdr (Dr) Harry Frank Oxer ASM

Dr Frank Burdon (Don) Webb AM

Mr Kevin James Young

Dames of Grace

Mrs Billie Annette Andrews ASM

Mrs Ruth Gwendoline Donaldson OAM

Mrs Joan Johnston OAM

Mrs Julie Michael

Mrs Margaret Hamilton Muirhead OAM

Sub-prelate

The Most Reverend Roger Herft

Commanders

Mr Anthony John Ahern ASM

Mrs Pauline Gladys Bates

Miss Margaret Jane Cockman OAM

Dr Kenneth Ernest Collins AM Cit WA

Mrs Betty Gertrude Crandell

Mr John Di Masi

Mr George Charles Ferguson

Mr Len Fiori

Mr Alistair Charles William Forsyth of That Ilk JP

Mr Douglas James Gildersleeve

Mr Brian Kenneth Hampson

Miss Olga Dorothy Hedemann OAM RFD JP

Mrs Merle Isbister ASM

Mr Ronald Neville Jesson

Mr John Charles Jones

Dr Kenneth Ross Littlewood

Mr Bevan Francis McInerney OAM CD

Mr Darren Clive Brooks Mouchemore CD

Mrs Norma Elaine Olsen

Mr Raymond Passmore OAM

Lt Col (Dr) Robert Lyons Pearce AM RFD JP

Mr Ernest Vance Pippard

Mr John Edward Ree

Mrs Ruth Amelia Reid AM Cit WA

Mr John William Roberts

Mrs Carole Schelfhout

Mr George Alexander Shea OBE

Mr John Derek Snowdon OAM

Mr Jeffrey Mark Williams

Mr John Leonard Williams

Mr Peter Stuart Wood JP

Offi cers

Mr James Percival Allan OAM

Mr Kevin John Arnol

Mr Robert Edwin Barker ASM

Mr Lester Johnson Barnes

Mrs Margaret Joan Bell

Mrs Shirley Margaret Birch

Mrs Edna Ethel Brown

Mr Frank Joseph Buytels

Mrs Verity Jane Campbell

Mr Carlo Capriotti

Mr David Anthony Carbonell

Mrs Elizabeth Ann Carpenter

Mrs Virginia Cheriton

Mr Barry Arthur Clements

Mrs Doreen Dorothy Clements

Mr Leslie George Clothier

Mr John Glen Corbin

Mrs Winifred Victoria Corbin

Mr Richard Edward Daniels

Mr Geoffrey Charles Davies ASM

Mr Michael Ronald Divall

Dr Stephen John Dunjey

Mrs Elizabeth Anne Dyer BM OAM

Mr Rex Warner Dyer ASM

Miss Marie Elizabeth (Betty) Dyke

Mr Henry James Eade

Mr Kenneth David Jones Evans

Mr Robert Paske Evans

Mrs Ethel Grace Farley

Mr Kenneth Allan Ford ASM

Madam Ann Forsyth Of That Ilk

Mr Charles Gerschow

Mrs Maria Kay Godwell

Mrs Hazel Eve Goldacre

Mrs Hazel Jean Green

The Rev Peter Harris

Mr Simon Warwick Hughes

Mr Stuart Campbell Hunter

Mr Chester Milton Hutton

Mr Ronald Cedric Jeakes

Mr Leslie William Johnson

Mr Kevin Wallace Jones

Mr Terry Jongen

Mrs Joan Josephine Kerp

Dr Edith Khangure

Mrs Fay Margaret Kite

Mr Brian Peter Landers

Mr Shayne Graham Leslie

Mr Colin Oliver Lock

Dr Richard Simon William Lugg

Mr Alan Felix McAndrew

Mr George Robert McKeown

Mrs Lydia Irene Mills AM

Mr David Edward Broadbent Morgan

Mr Frank Barnett Murray

Mr John David Neale

Mr Arnold Sibald Nunn

Mr Edward John O`Sullivan

Mr Abner Rupert James Paine

Professor John Michael Papadimitriou

Mrs Viola Frances Pentland

Mr David Lawrence Powell

Mr Lionel Jack Richards

Mr Lloyd Richards

Mr Warren James Richards

Miss Lynette Joy Richardson

Mrs Carmel Jean Honorah Sands

Mr Derek William Satterthwaite JP

Miss Margaret Evelyn Savage

Mr Brian James Savory

Mr Charles William Sexton

Mr Allan Keith Shawyer

Mr Brendan John Sinclair

Mr David John Stewart

Mr Thomas Barrie Stewart

Dr Peter James Strickland

Mr Kevin Wayne Swansen

Mr Antony Afric Tanner

Mr Alexander Edward Taylor

Mr Paul Stylianos Vassis

Mrs Alice Joanna Vinicky

Mrs Carol Joyce Wallace

Dr William James Ward

Mr Leslie Wells

Mrs Andrea Marie Williams

Mr George Henry Williams

The Rev Henry Gordon Williams JP

Dr Martin John Williams OAM

Mr Graham Alfred Wilson ASM

Mr Edgar George Winner JP

Mrs Sheryl Lesley Wood

Mrs Barbara May Wright

Members

Ms Emily Adams

Mrs Anne Margaret Adcock

Mr Peter Albert John Ansell

Mr William Richard Archer

Mr Dene Maxwell Ashfi eld

Mr Donald John Atkins

Mrs Aileen Joyce Austin

Mr John Edwin Austin

Mr Walter Clarence Axell

Mr Gregory Robin Baird

Mrs Doris Ball

Mrs Frances Mary Banks

Mr Edward James Barbour

Mr Alexander John Barclay

Mrs Judith Margaret Barker

Mr Colin Peter Barron

Mr Daniel John Barron

Mr Troy Bates

Mr Darryl Wayne Beaton

Mrs Joan Audrey Bedford

Mr Paul James Beech

Mr Alan Alfred Bentley

Mr John Henry Bergin

Mr Keith Billingham

Mr Frank Bert Bloxham

Mrs Venita Merle Bodle OAM

Mr Arnold Bogaers

Mr Keith Douglas Bolitho

Mr Clement Cecil Bowra

Mr James Edwin Boyd

Mr Arthur Benjamin Bransby

Mr Peter Ross Bremner

Mrs Brenda Brindley

Mr Graeme Brockman

Mr Andrew John Brooker

Mrs Gladys Elizabeth Brooks BEM JP

Mr Thomas George Brown

Mrs Valmea Wendy Brown

The Rt Rev Bishop Bernard Buckland

Mrs Dorothy Burgess

Mrs Joan Marion Burn

Mr Philip David Cammiade

Mrs Ester Rae Carter

Mr Kim Stuart Carver

Mrs Ingrid Chrisp

Mrs Linley Cilia

Mr Benjamin Benson Clarke

Mr Neville James Clarke

Mr Robert George Clarke

Mrs Mildred Rose Coad

Mr Barry Thomas Coleman

Mrs Reta Elizabeth Coles

Mr Alan Connell

Mr David Cook

Mr Stanley Victor Cook

Mr Kenneth Cooper

Mrs Kathleen Anne Crofts

Mr Neil Crofts

Mr Wayne Peter Cullen

Dr Stephen Leon Dale

Mr George Laurence Daley

Mrs Joanne Daley

Mr Malcolm Douglas Davies

Mr Damian Davini

Mrs Gloria Chrisma Davini

Mrs Kerry Davis

Mr Lancelot Norman George Davis

Mrs Ivy Edith Day

Mrs Gail Patricia Dennert

Mr Ian Digweed

Mr Oreste Frank Di Scerni

Mr Norman Maxwell Dixon

Mr Steven Douglas

Mr John Patrick Downey

Mrs Elizabeth (Elsa) Drage

Miss Elizabeth Dreger OAM

Mr Robert Kemp Russell Duncan

Mr William George Edwards

Mr Barrie Neil Ellson

Mr John Richard Evans

Mrs Lynette Mae Evans

Mr Donald Reginald Fallon

Mrs Valma Dawn Fallon

Mr Eric Campbell Farrell

Mr Peter Wiltshire Felton

Mr Nelson John Fewster

Mr Michael Victor Fields CD

Dr John Graham Francis

Mrs Barbara Anne Franklin

Mr Donald Frearson

Mrs Doreen Clare Gardiner

Mr James Kelvin Gattera

Mrs Elizabeth Mary Gent

Mr Otto Herman Gerschow

Mr Michael Giovinazzo

Mr Andrew Fraser Goode

Mrs Janet Goodwin

Mr Kelvin Paul Gray

Mr Peter Alan Green JP

Mrs Patricia Ruth Griffi th

Mr Gary Guelfi

Mr Glen Lindsay Hall

Mr Kevin Edwin Hall

Mr Ronald Harold Hall

Mrs Evelyn Rosa Hammer

Mr Douglas Kemble Hancock

Mr Mervyn Desmond Hansen

Mr John Victor Hards

Mrs Pauline June Harris

Mr Robert Harrison

Mrs Patricia Hatch

Mr Raymond Milne Head

Dr Clive Heaysman

Mr John William Hemsley

Mr Desmond Robert Henderson

Mrs Muriel May Henderson

Miss Doreen Grace Higgins

Mr Ewen Gilchrist Hill

Mr Harold Hilton

Mr Christopher Edward Hodgson

Mr Steven Kenneth Hook

Mr Robert George Horton

Mr Patrick Hourigan

Mr Antony George Howe

Mr Clifford Morrison Howe

Mrs Audrey Yvonne Hoyle

Mr Jens Kevin Hudson

Mr Alan John Hughes

Mrs Vicki Raye Humphry

Ms Lynne Elizabeth Hunt

Mrs Marilyn Doris Hunter

Mr Robert Frederick Ingpen

Mr John Colin Jarrett

Ms Anna Patricia Jaskolski

Mr Keith Jenkins

Mr Anthony Francis Jenkinson

Mrs Pamela Joan Jenkinson

Mr David Wayne Johnson

Mrs Ruth Minnie Johnson

Mr Leonard George Johnston

Mr Ian Lionel Jones

Mrs Marlene Ann Jones

Mr Bauke Theodore Jongeling

Mrs Kathleen Kane

Dr Stephen Kargotich

Mrs Valerie June Kelly

Roll of Members of the Order in WA

42 | ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09

Mrs Glenys Kendrick

Mr Herbert Douglas Kennedy

Mr Michael Kenneth Kenny

Mr Peter Wesley King

Mr Robert Vaughan Knapp

Mr Peter Cecil Kristiansen

Ms Taryn Lee Kunzli

Mrs Stephanie Lalor

Mr Lloyd Douglas Lansdown

Mr Leslie Henry Laughton

Mr Leonard Allan Leeder

Mrs Mary Patricia Leeson

Mr Kelvin Allen Lemke

Mrs Edna Phyllis Lightbody

Mr Patrick Henry Lyon

Mr Robert Ian Macdonald

Mrs Vicki Lynn Macdonald

Mr Kenneth Sydney MacKenzie

Mrs Susan Mary McCreery

Mrs Joyce McCubbing

Mr James Eric McGlinn

Mr Vince McKenney

Mr Allan Arthur McSwain

Mr Frederick James Major

Mrs Maxine June Martin

Mr Leonard Reginald Martin

Mr Milton William Marwick

Mrs Thirza Irene Marwick

Mrs Jennifer Rose Maughan

Mr Peter Maughan

Mr James Francis May

Mrs Ethel Elizabeth Mayers

Mrs Agnes Maud Metcalf

Mr Ernest Charles Mitchinson

Mr Paul Peter Monger

Mrs Dorothy Faye Morgan OAM

Mr James Leonard Morley JP

Mr Ashley Gerard Morris

Mrs Ilse Mueller

Mrs Margaret Patricia Murdoch

Mr Colin James Murphy

Mr George Ian Murray

Mrs Jillian Ann Neave

Mrs Dianne Leslie Nicholls

Mr Peter Nicholls

Mrs Hilary Jeanne Nind

Dr Ian MacLaren North

Mr Edwin Harold Parry

Mr Lance Murray Paterson

Mr Anthony Colin Pegram

Mr Ross Walter Perry

Mr George Albert Peters

Mr John Piggott

Mr Clarence Richard Plummer

Mrs Patricia Roslyne Pratt

Mr Barry Daniel Price

Dr Richard Frederick Reynolds

Mr Thomas Ernest Richards

Miss Evelyn Faye Ridley

Mr John Riley

Mr Alan Rimmer

Mr Robert John Rimmer

Mrs Mary Bridget Ripper

Mr Austin Gregory Roach CD

Mr Garth Alan Roberts

Mr Geoffery Roberts

Mr Michael James Robertson

Mrs Auriel Jean Rodgers

Mr Kenneth Frank Rowe

Mr George Watson Rudland

Mrs Dulcie June Rule

Mr Christopher Paul Sabourne

Mr Robin Norman Sadler

Mr David James Saunders

Mr Keith Scoullar

Mr Christopher Leonard Searle

Mr Robert Maxwell Simper

Mrs Irene Simpson

Mr Kevin Simpson

Mr Ian Sinclair

Mrs Elaine Smallwood

Mr Graham Smeed

Mr David Smeeton

Mr Allan Smith

Mrs Betty Smith

Mr Graham Leslie Smith

Mr Hector George Smith

Mrs Janet Ellen Smith

Mr Thomas Smith

Mr Leo Edward Spitz

Mr David Stevens

Ms Dorothy Denise Stevenson

Mr John Joseph Stevenson

Mr Arnold Mervyn Stokes

Mr Donald Thomas Stone JP

Mr Errol Dale Stone

Mrs Lorraine Stone

Mrs Mary Strickland

Mr Dirk Christopher Sunley

Mr John Graham Sutherland

Mr John Kinnaird Swan

Mr Walter Swan

Mr Ronald Swansen

Mr Terrence Sweeney

Mrs Bernice Harriet Taylor

Mr Wayne Taylor

Mr George William James Thompson

Mr Francis Edwin Thornton

Mr Maurice Tomlin

Miss Judith Pamela Tyler

Mrs Pamela Margaret Usher

Mr Hans Vandenberg

Dr John van der Post

Mrs Pauline Anne Veraart

Mrs Kathleen Patricia Wake

Mrs Leonie Walker

Mrs Maxine Janice Walker

Mr Richard Charles Walker

Dr Allan Stephen Walley

Mr Robert Edward Wallis CD

Mr Donald Godfrey Walter

Mr James Neil Warne

Mrs Edna Beryl Watterson

Mr Terence Harold Watts

Ms Gabrielle West

Mr Kent Ruthen Westlake

Mrs Lorna Whiteman

Dr Garry John Wilkes

Mr Raymond Albert Wilkins

Mr Graham Trevor Wilkinson

Mr Roy Edward Wilkinson

Mrs Jennifer Margaret Willgoss

Miss Christine Williams

Mrs Shirley Elizabeth Williams JP

Ms Renee Wirth

Mr Philip Joseph Wishart

Mrs Fay Margaret Wolfenden

Mr Kevin Wood

Mr James Alan Wright

Mr Maurice John Yates

Promoted to Knight

Mr Desmond Ernest Franklin BEM

Promoted to Commander

Mr Anthony John Ahern ASM

Mrs Merle Isbister ASM

Mr John Charles Jones

Mr Raymond Passmore

Promoted to Offi cer

Mrs Andrea Marie Williams

Admission as Member

Ms Emily Adams

Mr Colin Peter Barron

Mr Paul Beech

Mr Arnold Bogaers

Mr Kim Carver

Mr Robert Clarke

Mr Neil Crofts

Mr Steven Douglas

Mrs Janet Goodwin

Mr Desmond Henderson

Mr Ronald Knapp

Mrs Hilary Nind

Mrs Christine Nye

Mr David Ovans

Mrs Marilyn Whiteside

Commandery Commendation

John Clague

Teresa Cousins

Harold Field

Howard Martin

Carol Murray

Robert O’Bryan

Christopher Solosy

Robyn Olivia Thompson

Kim Whyte

David Wright

50 Years Membership/Service

Mr Kevin Arnol OStJ

Mr John Ree CStJ

Ms Lynette Richardson OStJ

Mr Neil Warne MStJ

Obituary

2009

We report with the deepest regret the death of

the following members in the Order:

Henry Emanuel MORGAN OStJ

Ronald Oswald NEUMANN MStJ

Isabel Millicent CHINERY OStJ

Peter Hartley MORTON MStJ

Cecil William PLATELL OStJ

Valda FINLEY OAM, OStJ

Dr Arthur BURKITT OStJ

Winifred Stella FRUSHER OAM, OStJ

Anthony William DORLING MStJ

Enid LAVRICK MStJ

Lawrence John ELSEGOOD OStJ

Promotions, Admissions and Commendations

Great care has been taken in compiling

of the foregoing nominal role of members

of the Order. It is possible, however, that

mistakes have occurred.

The Registrar appeals to all members to

notify him immediately of any errors or

omissions they may detect.

ST JOHN AMBULANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 | 43

ST JOHN AMBULANCE | ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09

209 Great Eastern Highway, Belmont, Western Australia 6104

Email: [email protected]

www.stjohnambulance.com.au