This World First Aid Day, 13 September 2025, new research from St John Ambulance has revealed widespread gaps in first aid preparedness in Australia, prompting a national call for households, workplaces, and motorists to check their first aid kits.
St John urges all Australians to take just five minutes on the day to check their first aid kits, and to make it an annual habit. The findings paint a concerning picture of how underprepared Australians are for emergencies:
- 34% do not have a kit at home, the most common place for injuries.
- 17% of Australians say they don’t have access to a first aid kit at home, work, or in the car.
- Only 28% of working Australians have a kit at work, despite spending most of their day there.
- 46% of car kits haven’t been checked in over a year.
St John warns that being under-equipped can hamper and delay our ability to respond to health and medical emergencies. With most accidents happening in homes and cars, and preventable injuries continuing to place strain on emergency departments, the organisation is urging Australians to take simple but critical action.
St John Ambulance Australia CEO, Brendan Maher, urges greater first aid preparedness for all Australian:
“Having a properly stocked first aid kit isn’t just smart, it’s essential. Every home, workplace, and vehicle should have one, so that we are ready to respond in that moment when it matters.”
“A kit is more than just basic supplies, it represents a readiness and confidence to handle an accident, injury or health concern that might arise when we are going about daily life. It gives us the tools we need for helping our family, our friends, our colleagues, and also ourselves.”
“This World First Aid Day, we want Australians to take five minutes to check their kits and ask, am I really prepared?” said Mr Maher.
Why It Matters
Every year, thousands of Australians are hospitalised due to preventable injuries. Many of these happen in homes, cars, and workplaces where a first aid kit could make an immediate difference before professional help is received.
St John is marking World First Aid Day by urging the community to act now. Check your first aid kits, replace expired or missing items, and consider the locations you need to have kits stored and available. There are kits to suit nearly all locations and uses. Make preparedness part of everyday life.
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For further information and opportunities: Mliette Ornelas – 0450 555 971 or media@stjohn.org.au
St John Ambulance Australia Commissioned Survey with You Gov, September 2025 (n=1009)
