St John set to expand youth program across Western Australia
- St John Academy will expand to four new locations in Western Australia – two metro and two regional – in 2026.
- Weekly evening program develops secondary school students as community leaders, equipping them with life-saving skills and a strong foundation for future healthcare careers.
- First year of St John Academy sees 120 young people take part across six locations.
The St John Academy will expand to four new locations in 2026 including Joondalup, Ellenbrook, Wundowie and Paraburdoo – giving even more young people a chance to learn vital life skills and forge new friendships.
The first year of the Academy, a leadership, health and wellbeing program for 12–17-year-olds, has seen up to 120 young people enrolled and another 150 on the waitlist to join.
Run by St John WA, it provides opportunities for young people to develop leadership and practical knowledge across a range of health and wellbeing proficiencies, as well as community-based projects, to set them up for success once school finishes.
They meet once a week after school during term time with volunteers currently leading sessions in Morley, Warnbro, Rockingham, Tom Price, Northam and Woodridge.
Academy Experience Coordinator and Paramedic, Patrick Harman, said team members were not only building skills for the future, but they were also already seeing benefits in their day-to-day lives.
“We’ve had some instances of our team members going out and putting their newfound first aid skills into practice in real-life scenarios by helping members of the public as well as their own family members, which is really, really positive,” he said.
Chloe Langley, 15, has made new friends through attending the Academy in Morley and now sees a clear future in healthcare.
“We are a really close group and the atmosphere is really welcoming,” she said.
“I’ve enjoyed stepping into leadership situations and feel confident knowing I could apply first aid if I needed to. I’d like to be an emergency doctor when I finish school, or a paramedic.”
With the strong impact it’s made so far, expanding the Academy to new locations is the natural next step.
“We’re proud to see how the Academy has empowered young people across Western Australia to step up as future leaders in their communities so far,” St John WA Chief Preventative Officer Megan O’Donnell said.
“By expanding into new metro and regional areas, we’re ensuring more young people have the opportunity to develop vital skills, including first aid, and really make a difference.”
St John WA ensures the Academy remains accessible for families by keeping costs low and includes uniform and learning materials in the fee.
This means St John WA, a not-for-profit, is always looking to partner with organisations to ensure cost is not a barrier for young people to participate in the program.
Enrolments for the St John Academy for 2026 are now open.