For Journalists

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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

Connect with Us

Press releases

1702871260947

A paramedic’s journey from cadet to clinical lead

The St John Academy has kicked off for the first time in nearly a decade, reimagining the previously run Cadet Program. Nick Overington started as a Cadet with Melville in 2011 and 14 years on, is now a dedicated and talented Paramedic working in the newly created Clinical Lead role with St John WA. The…
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Special delivery in Albany sees St John WA crew help welcome baby boy

An Albany mother has welcomed her third child thanks to the help of a St John WA crew. Jenna Gibellini knew her latest baby was close to arrival, but she never expected him to be born so quickly – or to be born in her bathroom. Luckily, on May 16, her husband Kyle had decided…
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Two people in uniforms standing in front of an ambulance on a tropical beach.

Paradise with a purpose: Meet the volunteers keeping Coral Bay safe

Some would say St John WA volunteers Katie and Brad Booth live in paradise.  The travelling couple have called the idyllic town of Coral Bay home for two years.  Katie, a local registered nurse, became a volunteer with the Coral Bay Sub Branch as a way to really engage with the community.  For Brad, who…
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Recognition across five CAA award categories

St John WA has been recognised as a finalist for every award submission it entered into this year’s Council of Ambulance Authorities (CAA) 2025 Awards for Excellence. Five submissions were entered into the categories of Clinical Practice, Staff Development, Leadership, Mental Health & Wellbeing and Technology, excluding Patient Care. It is the first time SJWA…
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St John WA team members honoured at Recognition Ceremony

189 team members of St John WA were honoured at the Recognition Ceremony on Wednesday 11 June. The event celebrates the remarkable academic and professional achievements of St John WA’s operational team with the latest Paramedic Promotions, Service Award recipients and National Medal and Clasp recipients recognised. The June event is the first of two…
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Shane Toovey Web and Social-2-3

King’s Birthday Honours for one of St John WA’s finest

St John WA is proud to share the news that former Clinical Support Paramedic Shane Toovey has been awarded an Ambulance Service Medal in the King’s Birthday Honours for 2025. Shane first joined St John WA as an on-road Ambulance Officer in 2010. He steadily climbed his way through the ranks, being promoted to Paramedic…
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Keedac donation

Vital defibrillator donation to support First Nations health in Narrogin

An organisation supporting First Nations communities across the Wheatbelt is the latest recipient of life-saving equipment from St John WA (SJWA).  Keedac (Kaata-Koorliny Employment and Enterprise Development Aboriginal Corporation) was identified as needing an automated external defibrillator (AED) after the SJWA Yarning team delivered training in Narrogin and found that the organisation did not have…
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Saving lives is in St John WA’s blood

With the sheer number of paramedics, police and firefighters present at Lifeblood’s Perth Donor Centre this morning, you could be forgiven for thinking there was an emergency unfolding.  However, all those attending were there supporting a different cause – the launch of Lifeblood’s annual Emergency Services Blood Drive.  St John WA Group CEO, Kevin Brown,…
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Lauren – QLD paramedic

From Queensland to WA: A paramedic’s journey of finding balance and purpose

After seven years in Queensland, paramedic Lauren Tenardi has returned to Western Australia – bringing her career full circle and embracing a new chapter with St John WA. “I grew up here in WA but moved to Queensland in 2017 for a change in scenery,” she said. “I began my degree in paramedical sciences in…
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Warnkarunku Day 2025: Northern Goldfields event makes preventative health fun

More than 100 students from Leonora, Laverton, Leinster, Menzies and Mount Margaret gathered at Leonora Oval to learn more about health and first aid with St John WA and other local health services on May 29.  ‘Warnkarunku Day’ brought together primary and high school students, local not-for-profits, allied health services and sponsors from around the…
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