St John WA’s Andy Bell appointed Fellow of the Academy of Extreme Environment Medicine

Andy Bell, Deputy Director Paramedicine at St John Ambulance WA, has been named a Fellow of the Academy of Extreme Environment Medicine (FAEEM).

This prestigious appointment recognises his outstanding leadership, operational expertise, and long-standing contribution to delivering medical care across some of Australia’s most challenging and remote environments.

With decades of experience in prehospital operations, major incident management, remote-area response, and organisational leadership, Mr Bell has played a pivotal role in shaping the capability and resilience of emergency medical services across Australia.

His work has spanned metropolitan high-acuity response, rural service development, and coordination of complex operations across vast geographic regions characterised by heat, isolation, limited resources, and environmental extremes.

Throughout his career, Mr Bell has been instrumental in advancing clinical governance, operational preparedness, and innovative models of care including in his most recent role with St John WA.

His leadership has contributed significantly to improving outcomes for communities, from remote desert communities to densely populated urban centres.

“Extreme environment medicine isn’t limited to expedition settings,” Mr Bell said.

“In Western Australia, our paramedic crews routinely work in environments where distance, heat, terrain, and isolation profoundly impact patient care.

“Preparing teams to operate safely and effectively in these conditions is critical.”

Fellowship of the Academy of Extreme Environment Medicine is awarded to professionals who demonstrate exceptional expertise and contribution to health care delivery in austere, remote, or environmentally demanding contexts.

Mr Bell’s appointment reflects his commitment to enhancing emergency medical systems, supporting frontline clinicians, and elevating standards of remote and prehospital care across the region.