For the love of your community

Building resilient communities

You care about your community. The Volunteer Ambulance Officers you see around town. They’re your neighbours and your mates. There for you in times or celebrations or when times are tough. Your community looks after you. And now you have the chance to give back.

Volunteering for St John WA is a gift. One that makes you feel a sense of belonging, a sense of place, a sense of worth. It’s the chance to be legendary. Not for money or recognition, but for that special feeling you get when you lend a helping hand.

Is this you?

Are you interested in clinical volunteer work?
Are you over the age of 18 and able to work in a professional workplace?
Are you friendly with a strong desire to help others?
Do you enjoy working in a team?
Are you physically able to perform CPR?
Have time to volunteer and attend training sessions?

Lend a hand

Volunteering with us looks like...

Joining your local sub centre roster and attending ambulance call outs. These include emergency calls and routine patient transfers.
Using first aid knowledge to help at community events.
Completing regular training to keep your skills sharpened.
Join a team of people who are on the same journey as you. Work together, learn from each other, respect St John WA values, and know that they’ve got your back.

A little about you?

This is all about becoming a crucial part of your community. You will join a team of legends who strengthen the resilience of their hometowns. They show up, stay calm, and support each other. When you join St John WA, this is what you join.

You will have time to commit to volunteering and the expectation of attending your sub centre/station regularly. You will also be able to attend the ongoing Continuous Education Programme (CEP) completed monthly at your division.

Skills required

Positive attitude
Great communication and presentation skills
Initiative and enthusiasm
Ability to work in a team
You hold a full unencumbered C Class Australian driver's license
You are physically able to perform CPR

Join St John WA

The application process

Step 1 - Apply to become a volunteer - click HERE.
Step 2 - If your application is successful, you will be offered a volunteer position with St John WA and will be contacted for next steps.

This application will take about 20 minutes to complete. If you cannot complete the application right now, you can click 'Save Progress' to save your work and come back at any time within the next 14 days.
You will need to upload a copy of your driver’s license so have a digital copy ready (you can take a photo of it with your smartphone).
You will also need an up-to-date National Police Clearance. There’s a link on the application form to organise this—remember you can save your application form at any stage and come back to it.
We also require you to complete a medical questionnaire as part of the application. All these steps are there to ensure your safety and the safety of the people you’re helping.

The Onboarding Process

Complete the St John WA Volunteer Online Induction (approximately 4 hours)
Attend orientation at your centre (approximately 2 hours)
Attend Division Orientation
Complete Provide First Aid course (1-day course provided by St John) or submit evidence of current certification (must be less than 12 months since date of issue)
Successfully complete Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) clinical training over 2 days with variation of training days available. Online training also required.
After your probationary period, further role progression and training is available for higher volunteer scopes with online and clinical training provided. These roles are Emergency Medical Assistance (EMA) and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
EMA clinical training over 4 days with variation of training days available. Online training also required.
EMT clinical training over 2-day online training and 4 days with variation of training days available.

Skills you will develop

Our training program will grant you the skills to watch over your community with confidence and care. Acquire essential life-saving skills to assist in stabilising patients enroute to hospital.

Gain invaluable experience at our ongoing skills maintenance program provided at regional sub centres. You can also expand your capabilities by participating in extra training courses like volunteer skills weekends, a volunteer ambulance officer driving course, and ongoing Continuing Education Programs (CEP).

Free training available

St John WA Welcome Induction
First Aid Course (Provide First Aid - 1 day)
Ambulance Driver Training
Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)
Emergency Medical Assistance (EMA)
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT)
Continuing Education Programs (CEP)
All our volunteers are provided with the necessary training to enable them to carry out their role. To continue to operate in your role, you must maintain the competencies required and an appropriate level of fitness as roles are physically demanding.

Find your location

There are 160 St John locations across regional Western Australia, which includes 120 sub centres that are full volunteer-run locations. In addition, there are more than 30 sub centres with a mix of Volunteer Ambulance Officers and Career and Community Paramedics working side-by-side. There is a place for you!

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Extras you need to know

Being part of St John WA means being supported the whole way through

Benefits to you

Free ambulance cover for yourself, spouse and dependents, as specified by St John Ambulance WA
Free uniform
Free training in all skills and clinical training relating to your volunteer role
Annual St John Conference and dinner dance in Perth, to which all volunteers are invited, with cost heavily subsidised.
National and international recognition for your volunteering and community contribution
Access to all Volunteer Member Benefits including corporate discounts and other ad hoc offers and specials.

Documents required

To become a volunteer with St John WA, you will be asked to complete an online application, including a medical questionnaire and the following:

National Police Clearance (valid within the past 6 months)
Current unencumbered drivers’ licence (no Probationary or Learner drivers, and no more than 7 demerit points)

Ongoing training

All our volunteers are provided with the necessary training to enable them to carry out their role. To continue to operate in your role, you must maintain the competencies required and an appropriate level of fitness as roles are physically demanding.

Confidentiality

All information concerning our volunteers is treated as strictly confidential at all times.

Expenses

Your volunteering for St John Ambulance should not cost you anything. We will reimburse all legitimate out of pocket expenses incurred during your time volunteering with us. You should talk to your supervisor to confirm what expenses you can claim.

Award & recognition

St John Ambulance has a long history of recognising the outstanding contributions volunteers make to the organisation. We seek to recognise all volunteers and there are a number of distinguished national awards that you can be eligible for including our internal reward and recognition program.

Workplace Behaviour Policy

Volunteers at St John are expected to abide by the work place behaviour policy and relevant procedures. The policy and procedures are available for view on the intranet.

Safety Injury & Support Services

Volunteers will be informed of the Occupational Safety and Health requirements applicable to volunteers. Safety Injury and Support Services provide extensive information about their services and policies on the intranet.

Wellbeing & Support Services

St John places a very high value on the health and wellbeing of their volunteers and provides an extensive support network through its confidential Wellbeing and Support program, accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.