Volunteers
Ambulance is an integral and dynamic part of the NSW health system and one of the largest ambulance services in the world. Honorary Ambulance Officers, Peer Support Officers, Chaplains, Consumer Representatives and staff who donate their time make a very real and enduring difference to the quality of care we deliver to the community of NSW.
Over 130 Honorary Ambulance Officers work alongside professional Ambulance Officers providing first aid to the sick and injured and first response to incidents in remote areas of NSW. These officers undergo rigorous training and recertification every year.
More than 111 Peer Support Officers who are uniformed staff provide an early intervention service, out-of-hours on most occasions, to colleagues who may experience stress as a result of exposure to traumatic workplace incidents.
15 Ambulance Chaplains have been engaged by Ambulance to provide volunteer individual counselling, pastoral care and spiritual support to employees, patients and their families. They volunteer their time to Ambulance and often respond to emergency calls for support following a traumatic incident.
Consumer Representatives provide valuable public feedback on proposed initiatives and enables a closer working relationship with local communities.
Ambulance staff donate their personal time to attend community events eg fetes, station open days and parades representing Ambulance.
The Ambulance Band
The Ambulance Band has approximately 42 members. It is a concert
band under the directorship of Deputy Superintendent Robert "Jock" Heath
a musician that comes to Ambulance with an extensive musical
background within the Australian Navy. In addition to the concert
band which provides a large musical combination, there is a
stage band, a brass quintet and
aaxophone quartet.
Each year the Band plays at a number of events such as the:
- Anzac Day March
- NSW Health Awards
- St John Investitures at Government House
- Reserve Forces Day Parades
- Triple Zero Fund Raiser for Special Olympics
- Fishers Ghost Festival
Band membership includes upcoming musicians as well as seasoned musicians that have been involved in banding for decades. It is important to be reasonable healthy to be in Ambulance Band as parade work and marching form part our work. The Band rehearses at Rozelle in Sydney on a Wednesday evening.
For information on joining the Band email jsmyth@ambulance.nsw.gov.au or phone 9320 7798
Thank you to all our volunteers for their invaluable contribution to ambulance care.
Honorary ambulance officers and first responders work tirelessly in rural and remote areas to assist Ambulance deliver emergency pre-hospital care to the community.