NATIONAL Volunteer Week gives pause to reflect on the contribution of St John WA’s 5000 volunteers who contribute more than 230,000 hours to serving community each year.

Volunteers work in a range of roles at St John WA from on-road emergency ambulance response in country WA, to logistics, volunteer support, community transport and event health services (EHS).

Volunteering can take as little as a few hours a month to regular shifts and there are options to suit every life age and stage.

Group chief executive officer Kevin Brown volunteers as an event health officer and said he looked forward to weekend shifts providing wellbeing and health services to people out enjoying the WA way of life.

“It is no exaggeration to say joining EHS has been a life-changing experience for me. It has brought an increased level of confidence in knowing how to respond to an emergency but of course the best part is the camaraderie enjoyed with other volunteers.

“The team come from all walks of life, but particularly EHS has team members who are already in, or are keen to enter, health professions such as nursing, mental health and medicine. 

“I have the privilege of volunteering alongside some of WA’s top doctors, and future practitioners,” Mr Brown said.

SJWA volunteer of the year duo Alex Gibson and wife Niki found multiple volunteer roles at St John.

They both volunteer in multiple roles in event health services and youth and community engagement.

Mrs Gibson said the best part about volunteering at St John was the supportive family they joined, which did not require a health or medical background.

“Alex was a parking inspector that’s why he was so good at logistics because he knew the city so well, while I was a home economics teacher,” she said.

“The training we get is so thorough and you work so collaboratively that it’s really reassuring.

“There are so many amazing skills people have to offer and may not even realise.”

Volunteer roles at St John WA include event ambulance officer and volunteer support officer, logistics officer, development officer, recruitment officer, volunteer leader, first aid awareness officer, community transport volunteer, and country ambulance on-road emergency medical responder.

To become a volunteer, visit https://stjohnwa.com.au/changelives.