BHP funding supports new ambulance for Goldfields communities

• BHP has donated $160,000 to purchase a new ambulance for St John WA’s Kambalda Sub Centre
• The new ambulance will feature a hydraulic system to assist with lifting patients into the vehicle, improving safety work volunteers
• The volunteer-led Kambalda Sub Centre services half of the Shire of Coolgardie region, spanning 18,423 square kilometres.

St John WA has received funding for the purchase of a state-of-the-art ambulance from BHP, taking BHP’s total commitment to St John Ambulance’s regional operations to more than $3.2 million in the past decade.

Located at the Kambalda Sub Centre, the new ambulance will assist in saving lives in the Goldfields. It will be fitted with the latest technology, including a hydraulic system that will assist with lifting patients into the vehicle, improving safety for the volunteers who commit their time to the local community.

The $160,000 donation from BHP to buy the new ambulance was unveiled at BHP’s Kambalda Community Cuppa event, held in collaboration with the Shire of Coolgardie.

The Kambalda Sub Centre forms part of St John WA’s country network, which covers the biggest area of any single ambulance service in the world. The Kambalda volunteers service half of the Shire of Coolgardie region, spanning 18,423 square kilometres.

Sub Centre Chairperson Tammee Keast said the team of 12 Kambalda volunteers cared for, and transported, more than 200 patients from their two ambulances last year and were thrilled with BHP’s donation.

“This ambulance is fitted with all of the latest equipment and will improve the service we can offer people in need of emergency health care in the Goldfields,” Ms Keast said.

“We are so grateful to receive this funding and support from BHP – they donated an advanced patient monitor and defibrillator last year which has made such a difference to our ability to provide the best care for our patients and we really value their support.”

The new ambulance will be delivered in the next 12 months and replace one of the older ambulances, that will then be retired.

BHP’s Kambalda Manager of Operations, Barry Dixon, said BHP was very committed to its local community and was excited to be able to support the committed volunteers who donated their time to support their community.

“We really respect the work that St John WA and its volunteers do in the community, and it is a privilege to be able to support them and ensure they can continue that amazing work, including the support they provide to our mine sites,” Mr Dixon said.

Volunteers and paramedics regularly lift, lower, and carry patients into ambulances and the hydraulic system fitted in the new ambulance has been proven to reduce injuries and improve the safety of staff. The state-of-the-art Stryker stretcher is worth $40,000 alone.

The automatic high-speed retracting feature also saves precious time which can be critical when transporting very sick patients to hospital, particularly with the vast distances that need to be covered in regional WA.

In the past 10 years, BHP has funded a range of services and equipment for St John WA’s regional operations, including in Newman and Port Hedland, totalling more than $3.2 million.

There are 160 St John Ambulance locations operating in country Western Australia, serviced by more than 3200 dedicated volunteer ambulance officers.