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First Aiders (18 year+)

As a St John First Aider, you'll be trained to deal with any medical emergency from applying a band-aid through to performing CPR for a cardiac arrest. No prior skills are required since we provide full training for clinical, management and support programs.

When joining St John, you'll become part of a division based in a municipality near you. St John Divisions consist of a group of volunteers that meet weekly or fortnightly for training, event planning and organisation. With more than 70 divisions across Victoria, there's bound to be one close to you. Click here to find out your nearest division.

By volunteering as a St John First Aider, you have the opportunity to make a real difference to people's lives and to your local community whilst making lifelong friends and having the time of your life. This is an extraordinary opportunity but don't just take our word for it. Here's what other extraordinary first aiders say about their St John experience.

"For those people who do not want an ordinary hobby, who want to develop abilities, learn new skills, experience new things and challenge themselves - joining St John is the way to go!"

Lisa

"I then reached in and simply opened the next boy's airway by gently pulling his head back – it is amazing how sweet a huge breath can sound."

John

"I then reached in and simply opened the next boy's airway by gently pulling his head back – it is amazing how sweet a huge breath can sound."

"Many years ago my whole family were volunteers of St John – my wife, my two sons and me. Number one son and I used to go for a short (half hour or so) run two or three times a week. Obviously first aid equipment was not exactly available when you are attired in shorts, singlet and running shoes."

"This particular night, approximately 1 Km from my residence, we were running up a short rise approximately 10 metres from a major intersection and there was a "four car pile up". I told my son to "stick with me" and briefly assessed that there were potentially major problems in one car which had father (driving), mother (front passenger seat) and three sons in the rear seat (Volkswagon – only two doors). Two of the boys were not breathing, having been knocked out by the impact (even though we were only seconds off the blue colour of their faces was a bit of a give–away). My son and I were obviously the only trained first aiders present so I asked my son to assist me to extract the conscious boy (who had a fairly obvious broken collar bone) and give him to Mum to mind, and hurry up! I then reached in and simply opened the next boy's airway by gently pulling his head back – it is amazing how sweet a huge breath can sound. My son returned promptly and I told him to run around to the other side of the car, reach carefully in through the broken window and gently pull back the head of boy number three. Another huge breath! Ambulance eventually arrives, followed by another, etc."

"About a week later, son and I were out running again, along the same route. A car went slowly past and pulled up. The driver got out and asked us to stop. He looked familiar and he asked if we were the two who helped out at the accident last week – yes I replied. He stated that he was the father of the three boys and answered that they were all OK and out of hospital. I asked him how he had found us (I knew that I had not given any name/address information). He said – "I asked the police and they said that you and your son often ran out this way. It only took me two nights to find you".

John