Students get taste of emergency life at careers day

Year 12 students from Shenton College swapped the classroom for the front line during a recent visit to St John WA in Belmont, gaining a look inside life in emergency services. 

Eight students spent the morning alongside St John WA Paramedics Patrick Harman and Doug Wilson for a ‘Career Taster Day’, exploring the fast-paced world of ambulance, first aid, and paramedicine. 

The day kicked off with the big question: “Why are you here?” 

Several students shared their ambitions of becoming paramedics, sparking discussions with Patrick and Doug about the realities, rewards, and demands of the job. 

A highlight was the guided tour of St John WA’s State Control Centre (SCC), where the group met Triple Zero (000) call handlers and witnessed the intensity of the SCC environment. 

Practical first aid skills were also high on the agenda with the students learning more about CPR, defibrillation and bleed control. 

The day culminated with a close-up tour of an operational ambulance.  

Curated by St John WA’s Youth and Community team, the ‘career taster’ was a trial for future events they hope to make available for other high school students in Western Australia. 

“We were thrilled to welcome students from Shenton College for our very first Career Taster Day at St John WA,” Lyndell Savage, St John WA Youth and Community Engagement Manager, said. 

“From a behind-the-scenes tour of our State Control Centre with a shift supervisor, to learning CPR, major bleed control, and exploring pathways into a career in paramedicine, these students got hands-on experience like never before. 

“As a pilot program, it was a great success, and we hope to open this exciting opportunity to more schools in the future!” 

With serious decisions being made about their futures, the day was the perfect opportunity for the students to discover the career pathways available at St John WA. 

Learn more about our youth and community engagement work.