In October, Tracey will celebrate 10 years with St John Ambulance Victoria. Looking back, her journey is a story of resilience, growth, and determination, both personally and professionally.

“I started out on the road as a Kit Servicing Representative, visiting businesses to restock their first aid kits and make sure they were compliant,” Tracey recalls. “It was three days a week at first, and I did that for about five years. I learnt so much on the road, building relationships with clients and understanding what workplaces really need to be first aid ready.”

Just a few years into her role, life threw her a curveball, Tracey was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“It was a shock, of course, but I’m here to tell the story, and I got through it,” she says. “I decided to keep working throughout my treatment. People thought I was strong for doing that, but honestly, work kept me going. It gave me something to focus on instead of just feeling unwell.”

Because she couldn’t continue on the road during treatment, Tracey stepped into a new role behind the scenes, helping to manage the scheduling of reps. What began as a temporary shift became an opportunity to grow new skills.

“I pretty much taught myself the scheduling side of things,” she laughs. “But having been on the road, I understood what the team needed. That experience made it easier to step into leadership later on.”

Tracey’s leadership journey has since flourished. She became Team Leader two years ago, and this year, she has been promoted again to Senior Team Leader. Now she oversees an expanding team of 18 reps, mentors new leaders, and works to improve processes so the team can deliver the best possible service to clients.

Her leadership style is grounded in empathy and experience. “I know exactly what it’s like out there on the road, the challenges, the manual handling, the pressure to keep up with demand. That makes me more motivated to fix problems, to look at better tools and systems, and to make sure our reps are supported.”

Under Tracey’s guidance, her team has earned a strong reputation in the community. Many clients now recommend St John to others, and some even call her team when they move organisations, bringing St John with them. “That’s the best feedback you can get,” she says.

But beyond the career milestones, Tracey is most proud of her family. With two adult children now, she reflects on the decision to prioritise being present when they were growing up. “One of my biggest achievements is raising two wonderful kids. When people tell me how polite and grounded, they are, it reminds me that I made the right choice investing that time in them.”

Today, she balances her busy leadership role with family, fitness, and holidays. She remains diligent with her health, attending annual scans and encouraging others to do the same. “Go get your checks done,” she urges. “It could save your life. If I hadn’t had my mammogram, they would never have found it.”

Tracey’s story is a reminder that strength takes many forms, whether it’s pushing through treatment while working, mentoring a new leader, or building a team culture that thrives on trust.

At St John Ambulance Victoria, we are proud to have women like Tracey leading the way, proving every day that resilience and compassion make the strongest leaders.