About
Purpose & Values
Grounded in our humanitarian mission, St John NSW is on the frontline of community health and emergency response across NSW. As a volunteer-led organisation, we serve as the medical reserve for the state, supporting safer and more resilient communities.
Our Vision
For the service of humanity
Our Mission
Lead globally in First Aid and medical responses to healthcare needs
Our Purpose
A safer and healthier community where everyone is ready to respond to a healthcare crisis
Our Values
Respect
We are the ambassadors for St John Ambulance. We are respected for the work that we do and the way that we do it. We recognise our strength comes from our diversity. We have the courage to be authentic and true.
Integrity
We do the right thing. We are honest and trustworthy. We are accountable for our actions and take ownership of our shared goals. We are there when you need us. You can depend on us.
Leadership
We are the custodians of our future. We share ideas and listen to each other, our customers and our community. We are open and transparent in all that we do.
Collaboration
We work best when we work together. We care for our colleagues and our community. We take initiative, generate new ideas and embrace change. We share success. Together we make a difference.
Communication
We are sincere in our voice and actions. We share ideas and listen to each other, our customers and community. We are open and transparent in all that we do.
A Medical Reserve for NSW
St John has members and infrastructure in local communities across NSW. Together they provide a Medical Reserve capability that is ready to deploy during natural disasters and emergencies.
Our volunteers train regularly with their local teams, learning basic first aid skills through to advanced life support. Specialist teams do event command and communications, advanced clinical capability, peer support and logistics.
While providing event medical services at thousands of events a year, members build experience in treating patients under pressue and working together in structured and accountable way.
Our established emergency management structures translate our event medical capabilty into an emergency setting. We understand the importance of working seamlessly with government emergency services. It benefits patients and is most efficient use of resources in the long run. Interoperability with government and clinical best practice guide our investments, standards and protocols.
We are ready to respond and care for the people of NSW when they need us most.
The essence of our purpose and ambition
The Medical Reserve - Building safer, resilient communities
- St John NSW provides event first aid and medical services for local community and major events.
- We bring best practice clinical and operational management to partner with event organisers to manage risks and keep people safe.
- We enable through our highly skilled workforce and infrastructure the capability to respond during emergencies alongside government combat agencies, acting as the Medical Reserve during fires, floods and other incidents.
- We provide expert advice and raise awareness about the importance of first aid. We reach children and adults, and community groups with diverse backgrounds and needs.
St John Safe
- Our brand is synonymous with safety and wellbeing.
- Our accredited and clinically governed practices provide peace of mind for employers and mitigate risk.
- We make it easy to improve employee wellbeing and stay compliant with WHS Act requirements. St John can advise organisations as well as provide a range of solutions to meet their needs, from training and products to staffing.
Impact that matters to everyone
- St John NSW recruits, trains and sustains a skilled Volunteer force of accredited first aid responders within the community. We are about caring for people and saving lives in the community. Our youth program builds future leaders that value contributing to their community and helping others.
- Our charitable programs are relevant to the whole community (eg, First Aid In Schools, Public Access AEDs) and build resilience.
- We are a charity and social trader. When individuals, businesses or government use our mission-aligned commercial services and buy our products they support volunteers and community impact. We help organisations meet their ESG goals.
- We operate with the highest ethical and governance standards and through our own business operations strive to contribute to wider social and environmental goals.
- We advocate for changes that will make our communities safer, these include initiatives such public access defibrillators and first aid education for all licensed drivers.
Australia’s preferred and most trusted healthcare Volunteer organisation
- Recognised as a leading Volunteer organization with high levels of Volunteer engagement and retention. An inclusive, vibrant and diverse organisation that serves the community.
- Australia’s preferred healthcare Volunteer organisation. Our volunteers are credentialled medically trained responders. Registered charity with skilled and vibrant Volunteer organisation (3,000+ members, young and diverse).
- We provide a way to give back, build community and provide a place to belong.
Benchmark First Aid Training is in our DNA
- Our quality first aid training not only gives students the right skills, but the confidence to act in an emergency before emergency services arrive.
- Our first aid and mental health training provides safer workplaces, builds community resilience and the confidence to respond to a health crisis.
- First Aid is a basic life skill for employment readiness. St John’s accredited training is backed by its reputation and 140 years of service to the community.
Strategic Imperatives
Market Connection and Differentiated Proposition
Create compelling, differentiatiated offerings for government, the community, and commercial customers. Make St John the partner and provider of choice.
Aligned and Deployable Workforce
Build a unified, aligned, deployable St John workforce. Have the right capabilties and scale to lead in training, event medical and emergency response.
Collaborative, Adaptive, and Responsive
Create a culture of collaboration, experimentation, proactive engagement and accountability. Successfully adapt to evolving healthcare and market needs.
Learn more about our 2025-2027 Strategy
Our 2025-2027 Strategy focuses on expanding first aid training, enhancing ambulance services, and strengthening our volunteer workforce to better serve communities across New South Wales.