Australia Day Honours for two of St John’s finest

Two St John WA paramedics have been awarded Ambulance Service Medals in this year’s Australia Day Honours List. 

The Ambulance Service Medal was instituted in 1999 to recognise those who have rendered distinguished service as a member of an Australian ambulance service. 

St John WA Group CEO Kevin Brown praised the medal recipients. 

“I am thrilled to see Lauren and David recognised with Ambulance Service Medals in this year’s Australia Day Honours,” Mr Brown said. 

“From championing inclusivity to mentoring peers and modelling clinical excellence, these two exceptional leaders exemplify our values here at St John. 

“We’re grateful for the long-lasting impact they are having on patients, colleagues and the WA community every day – and are proud to have them on our team.” 

Lauren D’Arcy 

Lauren D’Arcy is a dedicated frontline paramedic based at Rockingham Ambulance Station, delivering critical prehospital care.  

Beyond her operational role, she supports and mentors colleagues, has lectured paramedicine students at university, and is a trusted guide for junior officers on-road. 

Known for her professionalism under pressure, Lauren remains calm in challenging and often dangerous situations, ensuring the safety of both her crewmate and patients.  

A passionate advocate for inclusivity, Lauren has dedicated significant personal time and resources to promoting the use of Australian Sign Language (Auslan) within St John WA.  

Her aim is to ensure those with hearing loss are not excluded from quality healthcare and to empower paramedics with tools to communicate more inclusively. 

Her efforts have led to the successful introduction of the Convo application – a real-time video interpreting service for deaf patients – making St John WA the first Australian ambulance service to implement this innovation. 

Lauren views her colleagues at St John WA as an extended family and is committed to breaking down barriers for patients with hearing challenges.  

Her respect for all individuals, regardless of background or ability, underpins her inclusive approach to care.  

Alongside her work with St John and her teaching, Lauren also serves in the Australian Defence Force, further highlighting her dedication to service.  

Her commitment has had a lasting impact on both her peers and the wider community, promoting inclusive healthcare and elevating communication standards across the service. 

David Emerson 

David Emerson has been with St John WA since 2011, progressing from student ambulance officer to clinical lead in 2025.  

His journey through roles including ambulance paramedic, clinical support paramedic, and clinical hub lead reflects a consistent commitment to frontline care and clinical excellence. 

With a background in registered nursing, David fosters a culture of patient-centred care and knowledge-sharing.  

Since becoming a senior clinician in 2019, he has guided countless officers with expertise and compassion.  

From 2021 to 2024, he led the clinical support paramedic (CSP) team with dedication, especially on blue and red category work shifts, building a strong and resilient group capable of delivering advanced clinical care both on-road and remotely via the State Operations Centre. 

David recognised that quality patient care starts at the 000 call. He personally funded training in the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS), including travelling to the United States to become an MPDS instructor.  

He then trained all new CSPs, enhancing their decision-making during critical incidents. 

His work on the Dispatch Review Committee further improved the accuracy of MPDS coding and prioritisation, directly impacting patient outcomes by ensuring appropriate and timely resource allocation.  

He also worked closely with State Obstetrics Referral Call to improve childbirth instructions provided during emergency calls with his contributions now influencing international protocols. 

Following the tragic death of a colleague in 2023, David was a pillar of support for his team, particularly on red category work shifts.  

He conducted welfare checks and helped staff navigate their grief with empathy and steadiness.  

Now operating the clinical lead car on blue category work shifts, David continues to model excellence.  

His clinical knowledge, leadership, and heartfelt commitment have made a lasting impact on the organisation, the community, and the paramedics he mentors every day.