Meet Ophelia Fernando, a First Responder and Team Leader with St John Ambulance Victoria. Her journey began back in 2019, when she joined the Djerriwarrh Division as a youth member, nervous, unsure, and looking for her place in the world.

“I joined St John because I wanted to improve how I talked to people,” Ophelia says. “I was used to sticking with my small group of friends, but I didn’t know how to connect with adults or share my ideas.”

That soon changed.

Through volunteering, Ophelia began to understand more about people, communication, and how to make a difference. “It helped me realise that building a connection with someone, especially in stressful situations, is just as important as treating their injury,” she says. “You’re not just helping a patient; you’re helping a person.”

And her impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2024, Ophelia was honoured as the Moorabool Shire Young Citizen of the Year in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the community.

In 2025, Ophelia was awarded the St John Ambulance 5 Year Efficient Service Award in recognition of her commitment to serving the community.

Real Experience, Real Growth

Volunteering exposed Ophelia to a wide range of people, young and old, from all walks of life. Through this, she gained a deeper understanding of her community and learned how to communicate with confidence and empathy.

“It’s more than just learning first aid skills,” she explains. “It’s learning how to build trust and support someone when they’re feeling vulnerable.”

One experience that stands out for Ophelia happened at the 2023 Australian Open. A woman came into the first aid post feeling panicked after vomiting something pink. At first, there was concern it might be blood, but after asking a few questions, they discovered it was just from a pink hamburger she had eaten earlier.

“She felt so embarrassed, so I tried to lighten the mood by joking about silly things I’d done when I was sick,” Ophelia recalls. “It made her laugh, and she relaxed. That moment taught me it’s not just about being serious or professional; it’s also about being kind and human.”

A Platform for Confidence

Ophelia says St John has helped her develop strong communication skills, not just with patients, but in everyday life. From public speaking to group discussions, she no longer hesitates to share her voice.

“Volunteering taught me how to speak up, especially in situations where I might not know everyone,” she says. “I’ve become comfortable with discomfort, meeting new people, jumping into new teams, and learning how to adapt quickly.”

These experiences have helped her grow not just as a First Responder, but as a person. Now in tertiary education and involved with other organisations (President of Deakin University Biomedical Society Geelong, Student Volunteer of BioMelbourne Network, & Volunteer at Western Health Hospital), she says the skills she gained at St John continue to open doors.

Getting Hands-On with Inter-Agency Training

Since transitioning from a cadet to a First Responder Ophelia has pursued opportunities to get even more hands-on with ensuring patient-centred care through interagency training. She participated in training for aircraft and fire emergencies between St John Ambulance, Country Fire Authority, State Emergency Service, and Victoria Police which helped her further improve her ability to navigate, manage, and respond to emergencies alongside fellow emergency personnel. “Training side-by-side with first responders in large scale incidents has allowed me to triage patients more effectively, to be better prepared in responding to emergencies in high-risk areas and reinforce relationships across branches of emergency services.”

The Power of Volunteering

For Ophelia, volunteering with St John has been highly beneficial and valuable towards developing her leadership skillset. It helped her find confidence, community, and a deeper sense of purpose.

“Communication and development of connections, those are the biggest key takeaways from volunteering with St John Ambulance,” she says. “And I’ll continue to utilise them throughout my tertiary education and preparation for entering the workforce.”

Interested in building confidence, learning life-saving skills, and making a real difference?

Join the St John family and start your journey today.

Learn more about volunteering with St John: Volunteer with St John - St John Ambulance Australia (VIC) INC - Saving Lives Through First Aid