SOC call taker Sharon Davies plays her part in 16 Days of WA campaign

• Sharon Davies is a State Operations Centre Advanced Emergency Medical Dispatcher who underwent Family and Domestic Violence (FDV) training in October.
• She fronted a camera for the first time as St John WA’s representative in the Department of Communities’ public campaign ’16 Days in WA’.
• Now in its seventh year, the campaign takes its inspiration from the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence from 25 November to 10 December.

Sharon Davies, a State Operations Centre Advanced Emergency Medical Dispatcher, is playing her part in the Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence by representing St John WA (SJWA) during a State Government campaign called ’16 Days in WA’.

The 16 Days in WA campaign runs from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) through to 10 December (Human Rights Day) each year.

Now in its seventh year, the campaign takes its inspiration from the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

Sharon was among the 140 State Operations Centre team members who were in the first cohort across the organisation to complete State-funded Family and Domestic Violence (FDV) training in October.

She fronted a camera for the first time to help the Department of Communities build the 2023 public message: Stopping Family and Domestic Violence: Play your part.

“My name is Sharon and I am a St John WA Advanced Emergency Medical Dispatcher,” she said.

“I am the one taking your Triple Zero (000) call to ambulance. I will be the calm voice on the end of the phone getting the help you need.

“It’s important that we all play a part in keeping communities safe because we’ve all probably been affected or known someone affected by Family and Domestic Violence.”

More than $2 million in Department of Communities’ Grant funding will deliver training to SJWA emergency response team members, including clinical volunteers who deliver emergency ambulance response in regional WA, over the next three years.

SJWA partnered with Stopping Family Violence, a peak body not-for-profit organisation who are subject matter experts in FDV, to co-design and deliver the comprehensive training, with call takers being the first cohort since they engage in every call relating to FDV.

SJWA also provides team members Wellbeing and Support services using registered and clinical psychologists who specialise in trauma and its exposure.

Group CEO Kevin Brown thanked the Minister for the Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Sabine Winton for the $2.1 million funding through the Department of Communities for the vital training.

“Currently St John WA receives up to 6000 calls each year from patients displaying injuries relevant to suspected FDV incidents,” Mr Brown said.

“This training is the most comprehensive of any offered by an Australian ambulance service and will build the capacity of St John WA emergency response team members to recognise and respond to the needs of patients who may be experiencing Family and Domestic Violence.”

To learn more about 16 Days in WA visit here.