For Journalists
Useful information
St John WA is a not-for-profit which provides first aid training and education, primary and urgent care services, event health services, patient and community transport and delivers the Western Australian emergency ambulance service.
Charitable work includes delivering free age-appropriate first aid classes through the First Aid Focus program to WA schools, connecting a statewide network of more than 10,000 Automated External Defibrillators to the State Operations Centre in the Community First Responder Program, and supporting vulnerable communities to secure the time, tools and knowledge to save a life in an emergency.
The in-house media team receives about 300 media queries every month, of which the vast majority relate to emergency ambulance incident response. However, this is just one aspect of the organisation and we can work with journalists to cover a range of topics from:
- Mental health first aid and wellbeing,
- Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest,
- Urgent Care services,
- Volunteering,
- Being prepared for an emergency,
- First aid training for learner drivers,
- Expanding access to Automated External Defibrillators.
The experienced media team comprises broadcast, digital and print journalists who understand what newsrooms need and work with you to get great talent, content and yarns.
Incident response
The media team provides journalists with information in the public interest to help cover high profile Triple Zero (000) incidents, including: Services dispatched, transport priority, destination hospital and high-level information on the type of incident and patient demographics if known.
To improve the likelihood of a timely response, please provide as much information about the incident you are reporting on as possible, including date, time, suburb and street address.
The team provides the best available information at the point of request. This means during developing or ongoing incidents, information may not yet be available or subject to change. Please do be patient.
Reporting guidance
St John WA
St John WA is the correct name for the organisation.
Please do note use other versions, including but not exclusive to: St John, St. John, the Saint, Saint John, Saint Johns, St Johns, Saint John's, St John's, St John Ambulance, St John Ambulance Australia.
Ambulance crews
St John WA ambulance crews comprise team members with a range of titles, qualifications and clinical scope - from Critical Care Paramedics to Volunteer Ambulance Officers. An accurate and concise way to write about the activities of St John WA ambulance services is to use the term "ambulance crews". Please avoid "ambos" or "volunteer paramedics."
Road trauma
St John WA advocates for media and stakeholders to apply best practice as guided by Injury Matters when reporting on road traffic incidents.
- Include the following: "If you or anyone you know has been affected by a road crash contact Road Trauma Support WA on 1300 004 814"
- Do not use: accident; road toll, road statistics; offender
- Do use: Incident, crash or road trauma; road deaths; road fatalities; road injuries
Triple Zero (000)
St John WA complies with recommendations of the Department of Homes Affairs which governs use and promotion of the Triple Zero (000) emergency line, and recommends writing Triple Zero (000) in full with capitals on both the "t" and "z".
Enquiries
For media enquiries, call (08) 9334 1237. This number will divert to the on-call advisor. If you have a complex query, or cannot get through on the media line, email media.relations@stjohnwa.com.au.
