Larissa with the NSW First Aid Team who won the 2025 National Cadet First Aid Competitions. L-R: Hannah Li, Cadet Sergeant, Western Suburbs Cadet Division; Natasha Hague, Cadet Sergeant, Maitland Combined; Neomi Verma, Cadet Corporal, and Katherine Lowbeer, Cadet Leader both from Harbourside Combined Division.
My name is Larissa Cook and I am the Chair of the Board of St John Ambulance Australia (NSW).
I joined the Board as a Director in 2022 and have had various roles including Chair of the Clinical Governance Committee, the Risk Committee and then Deputy Chair to our previous Chair, Sean McGuinness CStJ, until he completed his tenure in November 2025.
I love the fact that our history goes back to the Knights Hospitaller in the 10th century and even then we lived our motto of Pro Fide Pro Utilitate Hominem – For Faith and in the service of Humanity. When the world was riven by sectarian violence we provided care to all regardless of race or religion. At the time that was a revolutionary position which we continue almost 1,000 years later when we are also facing threats to our social cohesion. Those values of diversity and inclusion still resonate and explain why St John continues to be relevant.
The Board of St John NSW is comprised entirely of volunteers who are eminent in their respective fields. I am privileged to lead them and I am inspired by their dedication, that of our Executive team and our volunteers and the staff who support them. I am motivated to ensure that in our 141st year serving the people of NSW, we remain sustainable long into the future. That means obtaining government funding to supplement the revenue we generate from our first aid training and equipment and the donations and bequests from members of the public and corporations. The support of government and the community we serve will ensure that we can continue our role as the Medical Reserve – being there at everything from the most extreme natural disaster to the local sports field as well as iconic events like the Easter Show and City to Surf.
Last year we celebrated 100 years of St John Cadets in NSW. One of those cadets has now risen through the ranks of our international organisation to become the Lord Prior – the most senior position in St John after the King and the Duke of Gloucester. The fact that our organisation marries the traditions of an ancient order of chivalry with a modern meritocratic and diverse first aid provider is unique. Our cadets not only learn first aid skills, they also learn confidence, compassion and leadership which sees many of them enter careers in healthcare often while continuing to volunteer with St John and inspiring the next generation. We have many families who have parents, children and even grandchildren volunteering together.
One of the great privileges of my role is that I get to spend time with our Governor General who is the Prior of St John in Australia and the Governor of NSW who is one of the Deputy Priors. We are currently privileged to have two very inspiring women in those roles – Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, DStJ and Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC, KC, DStJ – the informality, openness, kindness and compassion which they have brought to their roles has been inspirational, especially to young women in St John and I am sure to all those women who have had the pleasure of hearing, seeing or meeting them. At St John we are all about empowering everyone to be able to render first aid and perhaps save a life. The old adage that ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’ means that women in positions of seniority in whatever field of endeavour have an obligation to encourage and empower the next generation.
St John Ambulance Australia acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities on the Traditional Lands on which we work Australia wide. We acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, the Traditional Custodians of the Canberra region, where our Australian Office is based. We pay our respects to elders past and present. At St John Ambulance, we are an inclusive organisation. We welcome and respect people that come from all backgrounds, cultures, religions, genders, sexualities, bodies, and abilities. Access to First Aid and its knowledge are fundamental human rights. Every person deserves access to life saving support, no matter who they are.
St John Ambulance Australia’s nationally recognised accredited courses are delivered by way of third-party arrangement with other organisations (for example, with our St John States and Territories). These St John states and territories (except WA) are authorised to deliver nationally recognised and accredited training on behalf of St John Ambulance Australia Ltd (RTO 88041).
St John Ambulance Australia acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities on the Traditional Lands on which we work Australia wide. We acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, the Traditional Custodians of the Canberra region, where our Australian Office is based. We pay our respects to elders past and present. At St John Ambulance, we are an inclusive organisation. We welcome and respect people that come from all backgrounds, cultures, religions, genders, sexualities, bodies, and abilities. Access to First Aid and its knowledge are fundamental human rights. Every person deserves access to life saving support, no matter who they are.
St John Ambulance Australia’s nationally recognised accredited courses are delivered by way of third-party arrangement with other organisations (for example, with our St John State and Territory agents). These agents (except WA) are authorised to deliver nationally recognised and accredited training on behalf of St John Ambulance Australia Ltd (RTO 88041).
