SJSA Annual Report 2023-24

St John Ambulance SA

volunteers and the organisation.

Another significant event in the last year was our Leadership Workshop in February 2024. This workshop brought together volunteer leaders from across the state to reflect on our achievements in 2023 and to plan for the future. Importantly, we focused on how we can continue to incorporate St John’s values into leadership practices to inspire and motivate our teams. Looking ahead, we are excited about the future of our operations. We remain committed to enhancing our processes, resources, and volunteer opportunities to better serve the South Australian community. The dedication of our volunteers is the foundation of everything we do, and I am confident that with their continued support, St John Ambulance SA will remain at the forefront of first aid care and emergency preparedness in our state. Thank you again to all our volunteers for your exceptional contributions. Your efforts continue to make a profound difference in the lives of those we serve.

We also introduced new event support roles, providing a pathway for volunteers to contribute in non-clinical capacities while still meaningfully supporting our mission. This change in terminology reflects our ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusive language, ensuring that everyone who wants to volunteer with St John feels valued and welcomed, regardless of their background or skill set. In response to feedback from our volunteer teams, we rolled out new training equipment this year to ensure regions have access to fit-for-purpose tools that match their new training levels. This initiative is part of a broader commitment to upgrading our resources, and we hope to continue the rollout so that all teams have the equipment they need to perform at their best. In addition, we upgraded our Response First Aid (RFA) kits and training kits to reflect the new levels of training our volunteers are undertaking. On the uniform front, we introduced polo tops as part of our standard uniform, offering a more comfortable and cost-effective option for our volunteers during the hot summer months. This change was well-received and demonstrates our ongoing efforts to ensure our volunteers are supported in all aspects of their role. Our reward and recognition program also continued this year to show our appreciation to our volunteers. In a time of rising cost-of-living pressures, it was particularly important to us to acknowledge and celebrate the hard work of our team. This program is a vital way of saying “thank you” to our volunteers and ensuring they feel valued for their contributions. In line with our focus on adaptability, we introduced more short-term volunteering opportunities, particularly in emergency management and community preparedness. These roles allow volunteers to engage in meaningful work that fits within their availability while still contributing to the broader goals of our organisation.

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