Albany community gets behind-the-scenes look during St John WA open day

The Albany community got a behind-the-scenes look at St John WA’s vital work on Saturday, with a strong turnout for a special open day at the organisation’s new Great Southern District Office and Albany Depot.

Held to celebrate World First Aid Day, the free event at Sanford Road welcomed locals through the doors to meet St John volunteers and staff, explore the new facility and learn more about what happens when an emergency call for help comes in.

Visitors had the chance to get up close to an ambulance, watch first aid demonstrations and take part in activities for all ages, while guided tours gave the community a glimpse into areas of the centre not usually accessible to the public.

One of the highlights was a dramatic RAC Road Trauma Live demonstration, showing how St John crews respond to a serious road crash – along with fellow emergency agencies – from extricating a patient from a wrecked vehicle through to providing emergency care.

The event was also an opportunity to showcase the people behind St John’s emergency response, with volunteers on hand throughout the day to answer questions, share their experiences and talk about the many ways people can become involved.

Great Southern District Operations Manager Toni Melia said the open day was a chance for the community to see St John from a different perspective.

“Most people only see St John when they’re having an emergency, so it was wonderful to welcome people in when nobody was having a bad day,” she said.

“The response from the Albany community was fantastic. It was great to see so many people coming through the doors, asking questions and taking an interest in what our volunteers and crews do every day.

“Knowing what to do in those first few minutes of an emergency can make an enormous difference, so events like this are a great way to help people feel more confident about providing first aid when it matters.”

The open day also highlighted the important role St John volunteers play in keeping the Great Southern community safe.

The new Albany facility officially opened earlier this year and provides a purpose-built home for St John’s Great Southern operations, including ambulance bays, training rooms, offices, volunteer facilities and operational spaces.

For St John, Saturday’s event was a chance to say thank you to the Albany community for its ongoing support and to invite a new generation of locals to discover what it means to be part of the St John team.