At just 17 years old, Melba College student and Australian Army Cadet, Kiri Ferres-Jones, showed incredible bravery and skill when she stepped in to save a woman’s life at Market Fair in Ferntree Gully.

In June 2024, Kiri witnessed a woman collapse with a severe leg injury. While others stood by, Kiri acted immediately. She applied pressure to the wound, called an ambulance, and when the woman stopped breathing, Kiri began CPR. Her quick thinking and calm response helped restore the woman’s breathing and stabilise her until paramedics arrived.

“I just saw the lady collapse, so I ran over… there was a heap of blood,” Kiri recalls. “I put pressure on her leg, called the ambulance, and when she fell unconscious, I started CPR. I did a good amount of compressions before she came back.

The urgency of building a more first aid-ready community is clear. Although 80% of Australians have witnessed a health or medical emergency, only 9% say they feel very confident to respond with first aid.

“A few bystanders were gathering around but no one was doing anything to help. I started to yell out to see if there were any doctors, anyone who could help, but no one did. It was really scary being only 17 and the only one who knew what to do.”

Thanks to Kiri’s actions, the woman survived. Her courage and first aid skills earned her the title of St John Ambulance Victoria’s First Aid Champion for 2025, taking home the overall prize, including a brand-new St John G5 defibrillator.

“I’m just glad I could help,” Kiri says. “Knowing first aid gave me the confidence to act.”

Kiri’s story is a powerful reminder of why first aid training matters, especially for young people. When emergencies happen, confidence and knowledge can make all the difference.

“I am very grateful that these teenagers have learned the skill, and if something ever happens to me that I know that someone could jump in”, says Julianne Ferres, Kiri’s mother.

Kiri learned First Aid through the Army Cadet program and took part in St John Ambulance Victoria’s Party Ready Program at her school, an experience that introduced her to CPR and other lifesaving skills. Little did she know how valuable that knowledge would become.

“Kiri’s actions are a shining example of what happens when young people are empowered with first aid skills,” says Gordon Botwright, CEO of St John Ambulance Victoria.

“Her courage and composure in a real emergency situation are truly inspiring. This is exactly why we invest in programs that equip young Victorians with life-saving knowledge.”

At St John Ambulance Victoria, we are proud to support programs that help young people learn first aid, including:

• First Aid in Schools – Free training for primary school students across Victoria. This program teaches students on the importance of First Aid and what to do in an event of an emergency.
• Party Ready – Equipping teens with first aid skills for social settings so young people know what to do if their mates are injured, unwell or in distress.
• CPR Lab – Interactive CPR training using real-time feedback technology. This Community Program focus on lifesaving initiative to communities all over Victoria. It not only teaches young people, but people from all ages and backgrounds.

Kiri’s story is proof that these programs work, and that young people can be heroes too.