St John Ambulance SA_Annual Report 2021-2022

Annual Report 2021/22 29

St John Ambulance Australia SA Inc

CHAIR OF OPERATIONS/COMMISSIONER’S REPORT

As I look back on the 2021/22 financial year, and as my first year serving as the Chair of Operations/Commissioner, I feel proud and fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend time with volunteers and members, working towards forming an even better volunteer experience. The 2021/22 financial year presented a range of exciting opportunities, as well as a number of challenges as a result of COVID. Needless to say, I am proud of how the St John SA volunteering team rose to the challenge and kept servicing the South Australian community, upholding their unparalleled level of high-quality service. St John SA remains the leading provider of Event Health Services in the state, and we have again invested significantly in training and reaccreditation to ensure that our members are skilled, confident and ready to perform their duties. There were a lot of events to keep us busy during the 2021/22 financial year with Schoolies, WOMADelaide, cricket, AFL, SANFL and the Christmas Pageant being attended by our Event Health Services team. We are extremely fortunate to have such a strong cohort of devoted volunteers who selflessly give their time to support the South Australian community. In the last year alone, our volunteers contributed an impressive 45,298 hours at 2,000 events with 17,448 patients treated. St John SA is incredibly appreciative and proud to have devoted volunteers making these numbers possible. These numbers further illustrate the substantial impact our Operations team has on the South Australian community’s health and safety. The event attendance and patients treated were not the only projects keeping our volunteers busy, however. They also managed to accumulate 29,906 training hours to ensure clinical skills and first aid best practice were maintained at all times. Additionally, 44,160 administration and support hours were contributed to assist with our volunteer programs running seamlessly. These administration and support hours are vital to make our community work possible. St John SA also commenced a review of the adult recruitment and retention strategy, looking at increasing adult member numbers. Further strategy and complementary marketing support will be developed and implemented during the 2022/23 financial Event Health and Medical Services

year in line with our goals and vision for member numbers in this space.

As we look to the year ahead, I look forward to the endless opportunities for St John SA and the chance to continue to share our positive impact with South Australian communities. Thank you to all the volunteers who selflessly give of their time for the benefit of the community, and the team of staff and Board members who provide support and guidance to allow the organisation to grow and evolve and better serve South Australians.

Emergency Preparedness

The 2021/22 financial year saw many of our Operations members actively contributing to fulfilling St John SA’s responsibilities under the State Emergency Management Plan by responding to callouts by providing Ambulance Surge Capacity. St John SA provided two ambulance vehicles with Registered Paramedics, Ambulance Officers and Patient Transport Officers during February and April 2022. Overall, we provided care to and transported 197 patients and travelled a total of 6,167 kms. Again, the high standard of skills and services that St John SA volunteers offer was required more than ever due to difficult circumstances for the South Australian community in times of State Emergency. With 341 Cadets and many dedicated adult volunteer leaders involved, our Youth Development program remains a priority under our Strategy 2025. The program had another strong year with our Cadet volunteers accruing an impressive 3,624 duty hours and 11,578 in training hours. A huge achievement and commitment to their education and continued learning with 90 proficiency certificates awarded throughout the year. State Competitions were held at Prospect Centre in August 2021 with Cadets from across the state competing for the state championship. St John SA Cadets competed in a range of first aid competitions showcasing their knowledge, resilience, humility, teamwork and ability to provide quality care under pressure. I first put on a St John uniform in the mid-1970s, and the organisation is a very different one now. However, what I do clearly remember from those days is the desire and commitment of St John members to make a difference, and I still see that shine through today. I have seen St John SA volunteers go from strength to strength with their commitment and resilience always paramount and I am proud to lead such a wonderful cohort of individuals. Youth Development

Professor Bill Griggs Chair of Operations/Commissioner