Always on call: Meet the nurse dedicated to the health of her community

International Nurses Day is celebrated on May 12 every year and coincides with the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth.  

Nurses are an integral part of the St John WA volunteer base with many dedicating their valuable time and expertise to sub centres around Western Australia.  

One of those nurses is Nina Harris.  

Nina has been a volunteer with St John WA for 12 years and is Chairperson of the Kent Sub Centre in the Great Southern region. 

She is also a Volunteer Development Officer and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). 

Now a nurse at one of the local GPs in Katanning, it was her work as an EMT that sparked an interest in learning more about health and the issues she would regularly see on ambulance callouts.  

“I’d been a volunteer for about 18 months before I started my nursing,” said Nina. 

“I just loved what I was doing with St John WA and being able to help people.” 

The crossover between nursing and her volunteer work is hugely rewarding. 

“It gives you pretty good life experience,” said Nina. 

“You’re seeing people at their worst when they need an ambulance and then, as a nurse, or when they come to the GP, you’re seeing people potentially when they’ve recovered. 

“It’s nice to get that patient follow up.” 

Katanning Community Paramedic, Sonia Brooker, is grateful for the nursing skills Nina provides to her role. 

“As a St John WA volunteer, Nina brings her experience in nursing to the pre-hospital environment.   

“We appreciate her clinical knowledge and her calm demeanour on all callouts,” said Sonia. 

Through her various roles in such a small community, Nina has now become a trusted source for health advice among locals.  

“I really do believe in preventative care and how to support people at home, how to support people with their medications and support people with chronic conditions. 

“All of this helps the hospital system and our ambulance service as well, if people can manage themselves better at home,” said Nina. 

She is proudly inspiring and mentoring others along the way – with two more local St John WA volunteers now following in her path of becoming a nurse and several others studying paramedicine. 

Nina balances nursing and volunteering with being a mum of two, playing hockey and running a farm with her husband, who is also a volunteer with the local bush fire brigade.  

Whether you are a nurse or not, St John WA are always looking for new volunteers. 

“Come and talk to us – there are so many ways to be able to help and there is a role for everybody,” said Nina. 

Volunteer with St John WA today.