New roles and responsibilities await two St John Ambulance volunteers from the Greater Bunbury region.
Chloe Matta and Cloe Reichelt, both 19, first heard about the program in 2016 while studying at Manea Senior College.
Whilst in their final year of school, the pair joined a Certificate IV in Healthcare – Ambulance training program.
“That was when the Country Youth Volunteer course first started and we were the first group to get into that,” Reichelt said.
“I loved the fact that it was not just all book work, it was hands-on. The idea of helping people really spurred me to do it.”
Matta said the course opened their eyes to the work of St John Ambulance services.
“It was fun, interesting, and there so much to do and learn. It was all really interesting,” she said.
The pair took part in first aid courses, studied different types of medication, practiced fracture management drills, and underwent defibrillator training.
While volunteering at public events, the pair practiced applying their skills in the real world.
Matta and Reichelt said they have gained necessary skills, confidence, and the ability to interact with different types of people.
“It is a new way of life; you look at life completely differently,” Reichelt said.
The things that you learn and hear about make you realise how lucky you are.”
They have now become the first juniors to transition from Country Youth Ambulance Officers into Volunteer Ambulance Officers.
The pair will now undertake Level One and Two Ambulance Officer studies.
St John Ambulance Upper South West community paramedic Ken Hart said the training helped young people to mature into capable and confident adults.
“We encourage lots of kids to get involved with this, it is a really good program,” he said.
“We rely greatly on our volunteers – we have 8000 volunteers across the state, across 160 sites, and they are doing about three-and-a-half million hours per year.”
Visit changelives.stjohnambulance.com.au/changelives for more information on volunteering for St John Ambulance services in Western Australia.
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