This National Volunteer Week, St John Ambulance Australia is celebrating the almost 12,000 courageous and caring St John volunteers who dedicate their time, skills and compassion to helping others across the country.
St John volunteers are there for Australians through all the moments that matter, and all the everyday moments in between. They keep communities safe and sound, working quietly behind the scenes so Australians can confidently ‘do their thing’.
St John volunteers are often the presence people do not realise they need, until they do.
St John Ambulance Australia CEO, Brendan Maher, highlights how National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to recognise the extraordinary impact that volunteers have across communities every single day.
“Our volunteers are the people who step forward when others need support. They are calm in a crisis with vital training, caring in difficult moments, and deeply connected to their communities. They help communities do their thing. Whether that is attending a concert, cheering at a sporting match, enjoying a festival, or getting through an emergency safely, St John vollies are there,” he said.
The Unofficial Sponsor of Giving a Damn
As the Unofficial Sponsor campaign unapologetically states, our volunteers are the courageous and caring. The ones who give a damn.
They are the heart of St John.
Across Australia, during the last financial year, St John volunteers contributed a massive 456,000 volunteer hours across St John’s wide range of volunteer-led services…
That’s almost half a million hours of:
- event health services
- youth programs
- community education
- patient transport
- logistics support
- emergency response
- and so much more
Our “The Unofficial Sponsor” campaign proudly shines a light on the often-unseen role St John plays in everyday Australian life, helping make moments possible behind the scenes, while asking for little recognition in return.
The Personal Impact
A 2024 survey commissioned by St John 1 (You Gov, April 2024) found that almost all people hold volunteering in the highest of regard. 93% believe that volunteers increase the quality of life in communities and 85% of people view those who volunteer more favourably than those who do not.
St John is also taking this week to encourage Australians of all ages to enquire with their local St John about volunteering in their own communities and to discover the many personal and professional benefits that come from giving back.
Thank You to our St John Volunteers
Every volunteer has a story. Every volunteer makes a difference. And every community is stronger because of the fantastic people who are willing to step up and care for one another.
1 National survey commissioned by St John WA and released by St John Ambulance Australia: YouGov (n=1068 Australian adults). The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all Australian adults (aged 18+).
