In 2020 the Council of Ambulance Authorities was proud to launch the inaugural Women in Ambulance Awards designed to highlight successful and hardworking women in ambulance services across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. This year the 2023 CAA Women in Ambulance Awards recognise 54 women for their work and career progression and are being championed as role models to the rest of the workforce. The CAA Women in Ambulance Awards are looking to empower and inspire future generations of women to step into ambulance careers and progress into leadership roles and management levels. Congratulations to all our Honour Recipients. | ![]() |
Lisa VickersStation Manager Deployments - WSNBM SectorTime in service: 18 years Biography: Lisa commenced with NSW Ambulance in 2004. Undertaking clinical operations, she completed her probationary period in metropolitan NSW and following graduation worked at a number of regional locations before returning to metropolitan operations. During her operations career, Lisa has carried herself commensurate with the highest ideals on NSW Ambulance. This is borne out in the various acknowledgements throughout her personal file, recognition and congratulations from peers, frontline, and senior managers. Appointed as Station Manager in the deployment’s role, Lisa has demonstrated a natural ability and a commitment to excellence and innovation. She is frequently consulted in relation to proposed changes and is a trusted team member to a number of Associate Directors Clinical Operations and Zone Managers who have worked within the Sector.
Career Highlights: Lisa has extensive operational experience in both regional and metropolitan operations. She applies initiative at all times to improve systems and governance. Lisa developed processes to ensure improved fleet tracking and vehicle checking at a busy metropolitan station, improving availability and service delivery capability. Lisa leads the Western Sydney and Blue Nepean Mountains (WSNBM) Sector Deployments team. A high-volume mission-critical role that ensures staff are rostered in accordance with policy, procedures and industrial frameworks. She has been an active participant in various system improvement workstreams. Her attention to detail and governance has seen a number of her reports and processes adopted across other deployment teams Lisa is regularly assigned to specific roles within Incident Management Teams (IMTs). Since the 2019 bushfire state of emergency, Lisa has fulfilled the planning role frequently. More recently this role has required her to plan further in advance and to consider a number of difficult scenarios with the aim of ensuring service delivery in the emergency footprint at all times. Achieving this has required a high level of tactical, operational and strategic knowledge and a sound ability to communicate across business units. | Nicole MicallefIntensive Care Paramedic (ICP), Extensive Care Paramedic (ECP), ICP/ECP EducatorTime in service: 12 years Biography: Nicole joined NSW Ambulance through the vocational pathway and has worked in Western Sydney and South Western Sydney for the past 12 years. She is an accomplished ICP and ECP and a passionate educator for both the ICP and ECP courses. Nicole currently juggles full-time employment, working on the road and educating showing a true commitment to the profession of Paramedicine.
Career Highlights: Nicole is immensely proud of her ICP and ECP roles, bringing incredible passion and experience to both specialisations. She has worked as a single responder and been a forward commander at multiple significant incidents throughout her career. Her whole career has been a highlight to anyone who has the pleasure of meeting or working with her. Nicole champions her colleagues in every interaction. She empowers those around her to be the best version of herself. She inspired others to apply for ICP and supported them throughout the process. She empowers the women around her, teaching us to believe in ourselves and work hard for what we want. She has developed the practice of countless colleagues by teaching them how to assist with intubation at the beginning of each shift. She shows kindness, compassion, and integrity in all interactions with patients and colleagues. She is admired by all in the Western Sydney area for her intelligence and warmth. She is especially admired by the female employees and is considered by many of us to be a role model for the kind of ICP/paramedic we would like to be. | Maxine PuustinenAssociate Director, Sydney Control CentreTime in service: 34 years Biography: Maxine joined NSW Ambulance in 1988 as a Paramedic. During her early career she spent 32 years in Control Centres working in every position. She worked in project roles, operational support roles and as an Executive Support Manager at the State Headquarters for seven years, before applying and being appointed to the position of Associate Director, Sydney Control Centre. On many occasions over the last 4 years, Maxine has acted in the role of Assistant Commissioner, Director Control Centres. Maxine was awarded the Ambulance Service Medal in 2020. She is now a key subject matter expert in the relocation of NSW Ambulance Control Centre operations to the new State Operations Centre at Homebush.
Career Highlights: Maxine’s commitment to NSW Ambulance has been evident in every position she has held over the last 34 years. Her ability to think clearly under pressure and lead a team to drive outcomes has been demonstrated on many occasions. When the infrastructure at the Sydney Control Centre required major upgrading, Maxine was the Control Centre Commander who resolved major issues, including the implementation of the Business Continuity Plan to enact a partial evacuation of the Control Centre for a gas leak, and a full relocation to the Disaster Recovery site for a power failure. A Control Centre environment is highly pressured and constant. Maxine not only works effectively herself in this environment, but is able to lend her support to her staff, ensuring their welfare is a priority during all operations. Maxine was critical in the NSW Ambulance pandemic response, leading Sydney Control Centre as they responded to unprecedented Triple Zero (000) call volume and workforce impacts. | Linda ReichstadterAeromedical Operations Officer, Aeromedical Control CentreTime in service: 32 Years Biography: Linda has worked in NSW Ambulance since 1990, with over 22 years specialising in Aeromedical Operations. She has qualifications and training as a Paramedic and a Registered Nurse, as well as the Rapid Launch Trauma Coordinator within the specialty of the Aeromedical Control Centre. These skills and knowledge, along with her personal traits of being a genuinely nice and patient person, have benefited many through her on-the-job training and time as Paramedic Educator. Linda also provides specialised advice on work, health and safety to the State Emergency Operations Centre as required. Linda has been a role model to both female and male co-workers as a diligent and respected colleague with a consistently positive work ethic and outlook on life in general in spite of personal challenges.
Career Highlights: Aeromedical, Rapid Launch Trauma Coordination, Offshore Shipping Rescue Coordination, State Emergency Operations Centre and Incident Management Teams. Linda has also participated in multi-agency training activities that promote inter organisation preparedness for potential mass events. Linda is versatile with her roster as an educator, ensuring priority is on the receipt of quality time and optimal education. This not only provides for the best possible training outcomes but promotes and emulates the behaviours and attitudes to be continued. | Kirsty EnglandParamedic Educator, Clinical SystemsTime in service: 24 years Biography: Kirsty succeeded in the many roles she has held, whether this be education, validation, curriculum, and quality committees, to name a few. Kirsty is currently responsible for the innovation and facilitation of the updated 2022 Vocational Induction, namely, the Post Employment Tertiary Pathway. In October 2022, Kirsty was nominated by her peers and recognised as Employee of the Month for NSW Ambulance. She always looks for opportunities to improve and enhance processes, experiences, and outcomes. Kirsty has been instrumental in changing student experience and ensuring best patient practices. Her unique talents, enthusiasm, commitment, professionalism, and desire to excel have also seen her be part of many teams within and outside of NSW Ambulance Education.
Career Highlights: Kirsty is an integral part of the Education Development and Support (EDAS) team which oversees, develops and implements NSW Ambulance online courses and learning management system (LMS) for education. This supports the education requirements of all paramedics across the state. In her role as Paramedic Educator Clinical Volunteer Unit, she oversaw the management, education and wellbeing of 350 clinical volunteers, working at 58 locations across the state. The NSW Ambulance clinical volunteer workforce is an integral part of our service delivery model, as it minimises the time between calling for help and receiving initial care from clinically skilled responders, until paramedics arrive. This improves patient outcomes in geographically dispersed communities. Kirsty’s most recent achievement was the success of the Post Employment Tertiary Pathway (PETP), an updated vocational pathway that was established in collaboration with NSW universities, and allows applicants with no prior health experience to be in paid employment with NSW Ambulance while completing an approved degree in paramedicine. From the development of the course program, lesson plans, curriculum, exams, practicum reports, to the ongoing daily facilitation of sessions, as lead coordinator, Kirsty continues to be the driver of its success. | Abir DerbasSenior Manager Recruitment, People & CultureTime in service: 8 years Biography: Abir joined NSW Ambulance in January 2015 as Manager Recruitment. She came with a wealth of knowledge from large government agencies including RailCorp, Bankstown City Council, NSW Trains and the Health, Education and Training Institute. She has extensive experience in leading and managing talent, development, human resources and change strategies. Abir has been the driving force behind surge recruitment campaigns from 2018 to meet the unprecedented operational demands and workforce planning targets at NSW Ambulance.
Career Highlights: Abir leads change with her head and her heart. She always finds ways to improve processes and outcomes to meet the increasing and ever-changing demands of NSW Ambulance. Abir led a team of dedicated recruitment professionals to undertake scaled up recruitment campaigns at short notice, including the Statewide Workforce Enhancement Program (SWEP) that welcomed 750 new paramedics and call takers from 2018, and the NSW Ambulance Strategic Workforce and Infrastructure Team (SWIFT) that will see 2,128 new staff members joining the organisation between 2022 and 2025. She initiated the implementation of innovative assessment centres that provide an avenue for promotion in frontline leadership roles and identify development needs and success pathways for unsuccessful applicants. She developed enhanced pre-employment medical process for paramedic recruitment and implemented testing and selection programs to meet COVID-safe principles. She also supports and enhances indigenous paramedic programs to meet diversity targets for frontline roles. Abir was a finalist for Best Recruitment Campaign awarded by the Australian Human Resources Institute in 2020. |
Diana ZimmermannActing Director Operational Triage ServicesTime in service: 5 years Biography: With qualifications in Commerce and Public Health and 17 years of experience in corporate roles, Diana brings unique skills and perspective to her current role as Acting Director Operational Triage Services, leading paramedics and nurses delivering frontline care. Diana came to Ambulance Victoria (AV) five years ago from the Department of Health as a Senior Manager for the implementation of a suite of government commitments to improve ambulance performance. Diana has held appointments as Principal Policy and Strategy Lead and Executive Advisor for Quality and Patient Experience, where her work has been instrumental in embedding Best Care through strategic and operational policy, programs, and initiatives. Diana is passionate about improving care for vulnerable patient cohorts and has worked to align AV with best practice and policy reforms related to family violence, mental health, cultural safety, complex health and social needs and intersectionality.
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| Norieul KinrossParamedic Community Support CoordinatorTime in service: 11 years Biography: Norieul is a passionate paramedic who develops innovative internal practices that promote and support cultural diversity and inclusion at Ambulance Victoria (AV) and across the Strathbogie region where she is based. Norieul uses research and evidence to continuously learn personally, while also applying her knowledge to improve AV services. She does so particularly in local communities, where she works to deliver local emergency healthcare solutions and collaborates with AV partners to improve health outcomes. Norieul embodies the AV values and sets the benchmark for upholding the Victorian Public Sector standards with responsiveness, integrity, impartiality, accountability, respect, leadership and advocating for equal human rights.
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| Georgia FogartyCommunications Centre Duty ManagerTime in service: 12 years Biography: Georgia commenced her career with Ambulance Victoria in 2010. She is an accomplished Advanced Life Support Paramedic who has undertaken various leadership roles across Ambulance Victoria’s operational divisions. She has worked as a Clinical Instructor, Single Responder Paramedic, Senior Team Manager and Health Commander at major incidents. Georgia is passionate about building effective culture and encouraging growth and development across the Operational Communications Division of Ambulance Victoria. She has been instrumental in translating data into meaningful outcomes from the 2021 People Matter survey and developing divisional wellbeing plans to improve the health and wellbeing of her teams. Georgia believes integrity and honesty is the foundation of good leadership and strives to inspire others to harness this philosophy. She is motivated by implementing positive change and promoting an operational environment that is responsive to the health, safety and welfare needs of employees. Georgia is currently a Duty Manager at Ballarat State Emergency Control Centre, where she strives to provide best care to patients by managing and maintaining Ambulance Victoria’s response times and service delivery.
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| Danielle SaxtonActing Lead Community & Co-Responder ProgramTime in service: 21 years Biography: An experienced paramedic of 21 years, Danielle currently leads the development and implementation of state-wide Community and Co-responder programs. Danielle identifies trends and facilitates improvements to improve community response to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, supporting the values of best care for all. She has a particular passion for improving access to care in regional communities. Danielle has taken on leadership roles with some of our most important partners, including the Heart Foundation, Country Fire Authority, Emergency Management Victoria and Scope, and is passionate about supporting her colleagues in their careers.
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| Jacinta RivettGeneral CounselTime in service: 20 years Biography: Jacinta is an experienced legal professional, who has worked with Ambulance Victoria for over 20 years. In the role of General Counsel, Jacinta provides legal guidance across all facets for Ambulance Victoria, ensuring the organisation meets legislative requirements. Her team includes Freedom of Information enquiries, Privacy, Commercial, and Coronial matters. Her approach to leadership sets a standard of high integrity, reliable and trusted advice. Jacinta leads and role models a workplace of ethical decisions, positive workplace inclusion, and commercial excellence.
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| Danielle NorthDirector, Wellbeing & Support ServicesTime in service: 20 years Biography: Danielle is recognised across Ambulance Victoria (AV) as a leader who sets a standard for high performance, commitment to reliable delivery, and a supportive work environment. She promotes a work environment that welcomes diversity, role models fairness, and empowers her team to deliver outstanding support to the wider Ambulance Victoria team. An experienced paramedic, Danielle currently leads and manages a team of experienced professionals who provide Wellbeing support to AV team members. Danielle embeds workplace equality, diversity, and inclusion in her work, and identifies opportunities to deliver efficient, effective, and excellent services.
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Stacie RamanahExecutive Manager RecruitmentTime in service: 15 years Biography: Stacie has been continuously employed in the public service since 2007, commencing as an Administration Officer with Emergency Services, before taking up appointment within Human Resources for the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) in 2008. Over the course of her career with the QAS Stacie has excelled in leading teams and providing advice and support to senior management, executives and staff with a focus on recruitment services. Stacie has successfully led and managed high performing teams being permanently appointed to the role of Executive Manager, Recruitment Services in 2019.
Career Highlights: Stacie Ramanah was instrumental in the development and implementation of a Statewide Supervisory Recruitment to improve consistency and equity in the selection process. This recruitment strategy was developed in response to feedback received in staff survey results, staff forums, appeal processes and audits. Stacie Ramanah has led extensive revisions of recruitment and selection processes for operational positions, introducing and maintaining contemporary recruitment practices such as the introduction of testing for emotional intelligence, motivators, assessment centres, etc. Stacie Ramanah successfully led the team to implement centralised transfer processes across all roles within QAS. This included the development of application and candidate management system, education and communication strategies and documenting business process models. Stacie Ramanah developed and implemented recruitment and selection processes to support the introduction of alternative study pathways for CCP. The program allows successful officers to undertake the program in a flexible or part-time capacity whilst maintaining the same opportunities and support. | Conor FardonActing Executive Manager, Fair and Inclusive Practice UnitTime in service: 7 years Biography: Conor is an organisational development specialist with extensive experience in leading and driving workforce strategy and engagement initiatives across Queensland Government and private sector. Conor commenced with the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) as a Principal HR Consultant in 2015 and has since played a crucial role in empowering and shaping the QAS’s future workplace. Conor oversees several key organisational engagement and reform initiatives that drive sustainable change through creating fair, diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplaces for all.
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| Hayley GrantCritical Care ParamedicTime in service: 13 years Biography: Since qualifying as an advanced care paramedic Hayley has worked across Queensland including remote and isolated locations and has excelled as a single responder and clinician. Hayley strives to deliver high quality, patient centric clinical care to her patients wherever she has worked. She has completed her postgraduate degree in critical care paramedicine and is currently completing the Critical Care Paramedic Internship. Furthermore, Hayley has performed frontline leadership roles as a clinical deployment supervisor and clinical support officer. She is currently completing a statewide research project to improve the prehospital care of severe traumatic brain injuries. She has been heavily involved in the trauma on the border conference both as chair of the organising committee and master of ceremonies. Hayley is highly respected by her peers and supervisors and represents the qualities prehospital clinicians should strive for.
Career Highlights: While primarily striving to provide high quality clinical care Hayley has also been fortunate to be accepted into the critical care paramedic internship. The opportunity to perform in diverse clinical roles including in field triage office, low acuity response paramedic and clinical deployment supervisor has broadened her clinical practice. Hayley has also been successful in gaining a Kenneth James McPherson grant to deliver a statewide project aiming to improve the management of patients with traumatic brain injuries. | Jacqueline FitzgeraldActing Officer-in-ChargeTime in service: 18 years Biography: In 2004 Jacqueline commenced with the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) at Cairns Communications Centre as a Communications Officer before being permanently appointed as a paramedic in 2007. Jaqueline has worked in diverse locations across the state from Cairns, Edmonton, Kirwan, Home Hill and during this time had the opportunity to act as Officer-in-Charge while working in Home Hill and Nanango. Jaqueline became a permanent Officer-in-Charge in 2019 at Meandarra Ambulance Station and was appointed as Officer-in-Charge at Oakey Ambulance Station in 2019 and is currently undertaking Higher Duties as Acting Officer in Charge, Drayton Ambulance Station.
Career Highlights: Jaqueline is currently an Indigenous Liaison Officer in the Darling Downs District. Jacqueline was also recognised in Toowoomba’s 100 most influential women recognised in the Toowoomba Chronicle (9 March 2022). | Rebecca WhiteleySupport Officer-in-ChargeTime in service: 20 years Biography: Rebecca commenced with the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) in 2002 working in numerous regions across Southeast Queensland and is currently support Officer-in-Charge at Southport station. Rebecca has advocated for continued growth and positive changes within the workplace as a Fair and Inclusive Practice Network Officer. Rebecca is driven to create a workplace that is caring, diverse, inclusive, and respectful. Career Highlights:
| Chloe PageEmergency Medical DispatcherTime in service: 13 years Biography: In 2009 Chloe joined the service and has had opportunities relieving in several roles whilst an Emergency Medical Dispatcher. She undertakes these roles efficiently, always providing and accepting feedback, looking to improve service and innovate and improve areas and systems. Chloe maintains good relationships with all her work mates. She is very passionate about her career and endeavours to achieve high results regardless of what role she is undertaking.
Career Highlights: Chloe has mentored numerous staff in the call-taking and dispatching area of the Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) role. Chloe has relieved in the roles as an Operations Center Supervisor, Professional Development Officer, Operations Center Manager, and a PACH. PACH is a newer EMD role; this role aligns with our health allies at Cairns Hospital in which has oversight and assists with the coordination of the inter-hospital transfers in conjunction doctors and hospital team leaders. She has made and maintains positive relationships within the service and with our allied services. She undertakes these roles efficiently, always providing and accepting feedback and looking to not only improve service, but to innovate and improve areas and systems. She takes these roles on with vigor and good humor. Chloe always conducts herself in a professional way and is a pleasure to have as a work colleague and friend. |
Debbie StrachanResponse Time Manager - State Operations CentreTime in service: 17 years Biography: Debbie commenced her career with St John WA as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) in 2005. Since the she has held various positions; EMD Trainer, Ambulance Network Coordinator, Country and Metro Response Time Manager and Duty Manager. She has been in her current role of Response Time Manager since 2011. Debbie is dedicated to being part of a service which ensures a high standard of health care for the community. She is a strong leader, focussing on building a positive working environment for the team. Debbie is passionate about change management, specifically the developmental and transitional change management within the State Operations Centre (SOC). In 2022 Debbie created the SOC Innovation Group to bring team members together who are interested in change and improvement within the SOC.
Career Highlights: Debbie was chosen to travel to Malaysia in 2015 and take part in a project to help put in place new procedures and processes for the the developing communications centre for St John Malaysia Ambulance Service and the Klang Hospital. She participated in the State Operations Centre Innovation group, which aimed to bring a group of people together, who shared interest in SOC processes and showing how much potential the communications centre has for future impact on addressing ambulance response performance. Debbie also lists highlights of participating in Main Roads Projects, implementing and conducting staff training for a new phone system, and managing the coordination of patient transfers to Fiona Stanley Hospital when it opened, from several other major Perth Hospital locations. | Natasha ClementsVolunteer Ambulance OfficerTime in service: 17 years Biography: In 2006 Natasha needed to complete a First Aid course for work. Six weeks later she was a Volunteer Ambulance Officer in Northam. Becoming a Volunteer Ambulance Officer was something Natasha says she had always considered doing, however had some reservations. It wasn’t until the trainer of the first aid course, who was also a Volunteer Ambulance Officer, told Natasha she had a “knack” for it and that she should join, did she then jump in and give it a go. Natasha is an Emergency Medical Technician, Volunteer Development Officer and is involved in the onboarding of all new volunteers to Northam Depot. She enjoys helping people to get the best experience out of their volunteer role and ensuring they have the skills to provide the best care to their community.
Career Highlights: Natasha says it is difficult to single out a career highlight, saying that the highs, lows and challenges are all highlights in their own unique way. Natasha is grateful to have been fortunate to have been mentored by some extraordinary people. The progression of St John Ambulance services in regional Western Australia and being able to support the implementation of career staff has been something she is very proud to have been a part of. Being involved with the Country Youth Ambulance Officer program was a very rewarding experience for Natasha and in 2015 she was admitted into the Order of St John and promoted to Officer in 2019 for her ongoing volunteer commitment to her community, both of which she admits she is very humbled to have received.
| Rose GibbonsSecond in CommandTime in service: 2 years Biography: Rose started within a reception role in St John Health Cannington in 2021 and within 6 months was grateful to be given the opportunity to step up to a Second in Command (2IC) position. Rose encourages teamwork by coaching and actively promoting a positive workplace, by ensuring skills and strengths of individual team members are joined with shared goals. Rose was recently given the opportunity to act in the role of Practice Manager for the Cannington Clinic, she was grateful to work alongside an amazing team.
Career Highlights: Rose has had an impressive career to date and counts the following highlights so far: Successful transitioning from reception to 2IC in 2021, displaying a positive attitude and maintaining positive relationships with patients, doctors and fellow staff members. Rose provided support to the Rostering Team while during a period of heavy workload and used the opportunity to expand her skill set and extend her network and work relationships. Rose was grateful and humbled to have been provided opportunity to act in the role of Practice Manager. | Shu Yin ChiaEvents Operations ManagerTime in service: 6 years Biography: Shu’s journey began as a volunteer with Event Health Services (EHS) in 2016. She was inspired to volunteer and give back to the community after speaking to a close friend who had also joined. In 2017, Shu began a career with St John WA as a casual Community Education Officer. In 2019 Shu moved to the EHS Support Services team as a Support Services Officer and then the Acting Divisional Team Leader where she implemented systems and procedures to improve overall volunteers’ experience. Shu notes gratitude for a learning opportunity in 2021, acting in the role of Event Operations Manager. She was permanently promoted to the role in 2022, overseeing multiple teams that plan and deliver pre-hospital care at events across the Perth Metro area. This ranges from local community events to major sporting events and concerts at venues such as Optus Stadium and HBF Park. In her spare time, Shu volunteers as an Event Ambulance Officer and as a Volunteer Development Officer.
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| Stella ClackBusiness Support Partner/Executive AssistantTime in service: 6 years Biography: Stella is the Executive Assistant and strategic business support partner to the Chief Brand and Reputation Officer. Stella’s career background prior to St John includes various Executive Assistant and Personal Assistant roles for varying levels of management. Since joining St John in 2017, her focus from day one was the contribution to leadership and the whole executive team, in order to add value to the achievements of the organisation. Since joining, Stella has supported the growing Primary Health and Urgent Care business, the Leadership of the IT Stream, the Operational Ambulance Senior Leadership, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Brand and Reputation Officer. Stella’s approach and key aim in any role is to go above and beyond the requirements of the position, ensuring that the team and leadership is able to concentrate fully on their role, with confidence that administrative & support functions are taken care of.
Career Highlights: During Stella’s 5 years with St John, there have been several highlight moments. Stella played a tangible role in the organisation’s growth in Primary Health and Urgent Care, contributing to its development from the very beginnings. She has skilfully and successfully navigated beyond the normal duties of an executive assistant, developing a strategic business partner approach with the leaders she supports and delivers exceptional support to senior leaders in all areas of the business, gaining their trust and that of their teams. Stella has built a reputation as a reliable and experienced contributor, resolving organisational issues in high-pressure situations such as the pandemic response and a parliamentary inquiry. Stella is able to present unbiased advice to the leadership team based on objective opinions and knowledge, either existing or researched and she always makes time to provide personal development advice and mentoring to others. | Aideen ChandlerMetropolitan Ambulance ParamedicTime in service: 10 years Biography: Aideen has served with St John for 10 years. She was motivated to apply for the ambulance service after a rewarding career in the veterinary industry and the arrival of her two children. Her youngest son unfortunately had significant health issues and she came to appreciate firsthand the impact of effective health in families. Aideen considers ambulance work to be dynamic, demanding, exciting and ever challenging and changing.
Career Highlights: Aideen highlights an experience providing relief paramedic services in Broome during 2022, noting it was her first regional posting and provided great learning opportunities. The regional experience broadened her scope and gave her an appreciation of the challenges of rural and remote health care. Aideen also notes that she has experienced many opportunities to have her comfort zone tested and considers this to have been important life development. Additionally, Aideen notes the many working relationships and close friendships she has developed over her ten years with St John and credits the support she has both have given and received with being life changing.
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Mardy HuntArea Clinical Team LeaderTime in service: 25 years Biography: Mardy is an Intensive Care Paramedic and Area Clinical Team Leader (ACTL) for the Metro North D shift team. Mardy demonstrates outstanding compassion for her team, she places value on knowing and understanding them as individuals both inside and outside of work. She is also one of our most experienced leaders within Metropolitan Operations. Mardy has been a mentor and support person for many people, providing them with the feedback, support and encouragement they need to further their careers.
Career Highlights: Mardy commenced her career with SAAS in 1998, she commenced and successfully completed the Intensive Care Paramedic course shortly after. Following this Mardy started her career in leadership, taking on a Team Leader role at Salisbury, which later become the North D shift ACTL role. In her time as the North D shift ACTL Mardy has taken on numerous representative roles and made a significant contribution to the Metro North leadership team. | Sandra JonesIntensive Care ParamedicTime in service: 25 years Biography: Sandra has been with SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) for 25 years, starting as a Paramedic in metropolitan Adelaide in 1997, before qualifying as an Intensive Care Paramedic (ICP) in 2002. Shortly after gaining her ICP credentials, Sandra moved to Mount Gambier, initially taking on the position of Regional Team Leader in the Lower South-East, before returning on road as part of the Mount Gambier team. Sandra is a strong advocate for patient care and staff development, and most recently has begun mentoring Mount Gambier’s first ICP intern, due to her depth of clinical experience and leadership. She is a highly respected and valued member of both the Mount Gambier team and the Limestone Coast region, and frequently relieves in the Mount Gambier Clinical Team Leader position.
Career Highlights: Sandra is always first to make new staff feel welcome when they arrive in the Mount Gambier area, often going out of her way to catch up with new staff outside of work to ensure they are comfortable and relaxed when they start working in the region. Sandra is also a keen advocate for staff development. In 2019 she was integral in setting up ParaCHATS - a platform for connecting geographically isolated clinicians with high quality clinical education for which she won an “Excellence in Improving Safety and Quality” at the 2020 SAAS Awards Night. Additionally, she is mentoring country SA’s first ICP intern, further demonstrating her commitment to staff support and clinical development. | Megan CheneyClinical Support OfficerTime in service: 18 years Biography: Megan is an experienced Intensive Care Paramedic and Clinical Support Officer whose passion for quality patient care is outstanding. Megan frequently goes above and beyond to ensure our team delivers high quality education. Megan brings a passionate, caring, and friendly demeanour to everything she does, and inspires clinicians throughout SA Ambulance Service (SAAS). Megan recently led the ambulance component of the Australian Rescue Challenge. Teamed with SA Metropolitan Fire Service, Megan and her team were overall winners, winning many of the individual challenges too.
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| Angelik van den BergActing Clinical Hub Team LeaderTime in service: 15 years Biography: Angelik is a valued and respected member of the Clinical Hub family here SA Ambulance. She embodies the qualities of a dedicated leader and is well-liked and respected by the team. She joined the Clinical Hub as an inaugural Paramedic Telehealth Clinician (PTC) in 2020 having been an experienced and respected Paramedic who was looking for a new challenge. The PTC role required Angelik and her peers to develop new skills and processes to conduct telehealth assessments of patients calling triple zero and where possible connect them with a tailored plan to access care that meets their need. Angelik maintained a patient-centered approach to delivering this care and still takes every opportunity to get patient facing and assist our callers. Once in the PTC role Angelik quickly established herself as a capable leader amongst her peers and relished the opportunity to develop in a leadership role. Her selfless approach to this role sees her frequently put the needs of patients and team-members before her own when striving to solve complex problems and balance conflicting requirements.
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| Anna TripptreeEmergency Medical DispatcherTime in service: 19 years Biography: Anna is an engaging highly competent staff member who is very patient focused. Anna has the respect of both career team members as well as volunteers throughout the state. Anna mainly works in region dispatch in the Emergency Operations Centre but also relieves as the Emergency Medical Dispatcher Team Leader. She has the respect of all her team members and is effective is managing a shift. Anna is a friendly team member, and is extremely supportive, especially of volunteers. She is reliable, able to solve problems and manage incidents as they arise.
Career Highlights: Ability to work in all areas of the Emergency Operations Centre, and qualified as a Patient Transport Officer. | Alexi TuckeyCommunications Team LeaderTime in service: 10 years Biography: Alexi Tuckey is the Communications Team Leader in the Communications and Engagement Team. She has recently been appointed to Acting Manager Communications and Strategic Engagement to take effect after the resignation of Natalie Gibson. Alexi has worked for SA Ambulance Service for ten years and is pivotal in communicating with all staff. She’s a problem solver and has an adaptability that rivals none. Recently she juggled managing the opening of the Birdwood Ambulance Station, and then the SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) Presentation Day the following week, all while supporting her staff and approving all communications.
Career Highlights: Alexi’s highlights are many. She is the master of ceremonies behind the Excellence Awards, the Presentation Day as well as various community events. Her leadership shone through in her time during the COVID-19 pandemic. She switched gears to support the COVID-19 response keeping staff informed through accurate and timely bulletins and contributed as a key member of the IMT. Alexi has formally acted in the team’s management position on several occasions, but she always performs above and beyond. Her positive outlook and approach, and willingness to ‘dig in’ to get the job done is admirable and supports SAAS to deliver on time critical outcomes and positive communications. She is a problem solver, and innovator, always striving to find solutions to achieve best outcomes. She instils hope for success in her team, and those that she works with and empowers all to accomplish objectives that serve the organisational direction. |
Sue DudleyOperations Support AssistantTime in service: 22 years Biography: Sue commenced with Ambulance Tasmania 22 years ago, in a part time role within the education unit. She moved into a full-time role several years later when the position opened up and has been assisting in the smooth running of the North West region since. Sue is trustworthy and has been considered the linchpin or glue that keeps the region together. She is adaptable, having moved offices, finding ways to continue working through covid and training new and acting Regional Managers and Assistant Directors.
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| Emma BlightSafety and Quality OfficerTime in service: 7 years Biography: Emma has been an invaluable, respected female leader within the communications centre. She has worked in a number of different roles from call taker, dispatcher, Acting Operations manager and most recently Safety and Quality Officer. Emma is passionate about our people at Ambulance Tasmania and delivering a high standard within the communications centre, creating multiple improvement initiatives to improve service delivery. Emma brings a positive charisma to the communications centre, providing positively with her peers in the skills and call taking they delivery to the community.
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| Katrina OstrenskiParamedicTime in service: 5 years Biography: Katrina commenced her career in Ambulance Tasmania 5 years ago during that period she has held the positions of Paramedic, Branch Station Officer and PACER Paramedic. She has also undertaken significant work in her own time to advance Ambulance Tasmania’s level of Community Engagement. This work has involved high level stakeholder engagement with other Government Departments and relevant partners in private industry, as well as the submission of high-level concept briefs, and financials. She also provides additional voluntary Critical Incident Stress Management support to colleagues within Ambulance, Police, Fire and the State Emergency Service. Katrina is currently undertaking a Masters of Public Administration to further her contributions to the Ambulance Tasmania’s Strategic Objectives.
Career Highlights: Katrina has produced high level, high quality documentation for the Community Engagement space. This significant amount of work was completed voluntarily in her own time. Katrina has always contributed significantly to a positive workplace culture wherever she has worked in Ambulance Tasmania she is a strong advocate for herself, patients and Ambulance Tasmania. She has improved cross agency relationships with Tasmanian Fire Service at co-located stations she has worked at with her bright, positive, and engaging attitude. | Rebecca DudmanParamedicTime in service: 20 years Biography: Bec has been employed with Ambulance Tasmania for many years. She has been Diversity Officer for at least 12 years and was one of the first Peer Support Officers in Ambulance Tasmania. Bec created a gallery in Northern region to show case staffs creative side and it brings joy to a busy workplace. Bec created a peer support room in North where staff can go and chill out and re-group. She has spent many unpaid hours creating both spaces and champions equality and well-being in the workplace.
Career Highlights: Bec has been Diversity Officer for many years and one of the first Peer Support Officers with Ambulance Tasmania. |
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Leanne HardieIntensive Care Paramedic/Extended Care ParamedicTime in service: 31 years Biography: Leanne began as a cadet in Queensland Ambulance in 1991, worked in Sydney for over two years as well as Cairns before joining ACT Ambulance. When she started Ambulance was a male dominated industry and a particularly challenging environment for women, however she persevered to become a multiskilled paramedic. As an Extended Care Paramedic, she has worked to promote innovative growth within palliative and person-centred care, by bridging the gap between various community services. Leanne completed a nursing degree and is now doing post graduate studies in Aged Care.
Career Highlights:
| Samantha CarmichaelIntensive Care ParamedicTime in service: 11 years Biography: Samantha is an Intensive Care Paramedic working for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Ambulance Service. Sam has been working as a Paramedic in the ACT for the past 11 years and is an exceptional clinician that is highly respected amongst all her peers and colleagues. Sam began her Ambulance career working as an Ambulance Paramedic, progressing to Intensive Care Paramedic, and will soon be commencing in a new role as an Intensive Care Flight Paramedic in the ACT. Throughout her career so far, Sam has dedicated a significant amount of time educating her colleagues working as a Training and Development officer. She has been specifically assisting Graduate Intern Paramedics to progress throughout their Graduate Programs, ultimately supporting them in passing their Independent Authority to Practice qualification and continuing to assist and educate them in their ongoing practice and Ambulance careers.
Career Highlights: Sam began her clinical career working as a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department, transitioning to the ACT Ambulance Service and starting her pre-hospital career as an Ambulance Paramedic. Sam progressed her career undertaking the Intensive Care Paramedic training program and gaining her Authority to Practice as an Intensive Care Paramedic. Throughout this period Sam has worked as a Training and Development Officer, supervising, assisting and educating her colleagues as they progress through their respective training programs and final exams. Sam has worked in a clinical educator role, assisting with course delivery and return to work programs for staff returning from extended leave, assisting them in building their confidence and competence. Sam will shortly commence her new role as an Intensive Care Flight Paramedic in the ACT, continuing to provide exceptional care to patients within the ACT community and surrounds. | Megan DavisIntensive Care ParamedicTime in service: 26 years Biography: Megan has had the opportunity to act in senior management positions in ACT Ambulance Service (ACTAS) including the Chief Officer, General Manager of both the Clinical Governance Unit, and Operations. Megan was instrumental in the management and implementation of the PACER program by successfully blending three distinct cultures across vastly differing extended workplaces encompassing police, ambulance, and mental health clinicians. She wanted to achieve a single vision and purpose allowing this program to flourish and greatly improve outcomes for patients, responders, and the community. Megan’s drive, enthusiasm and her ability to engage others has been instrumental in ACTAS providing better care and achieving better outcomes for the ACT community.
Career Highlights: The implementation of the PACER program, along with her ability to highlight and stand behind her decisions while representing ACTAS during the review of the Mental Health Act 2015, she proposed changes to the wording in the Act and the Explanatory Statement, which would cause confusion for paramedics in the operationalisation of the legislation. The potential outcome was that paramedics would not be legally supported to assist patients experiencing an acute mental health crisis, who were at risk of harming themselves or others. Megan raised her concerns with the Director of the Mental Health Policy Branch, ACT Health Department and proposed and negotiated a solution which involved a change to the wording in the relevant section of the Act and Explanatory Statement. This ability and contribution protected not only the patients, but her colleagues. Megan has led multi-agency safety review of bariatric patient management. After recognising risks to paramedic staff and bariatric patients, she led a multi-agency review resulting in changes to how these members of society are viewed and managed across the government health sector and emergency responders. These examples exemplify Megan’s drive and integrity that is displayed continuously in high level matters and in how she conducts herself on a daily basis. |
Alice CroomanParamedicTime in service: 19 years Biography: Alice has been employed by St John NT for over 18 years. Her ambulance journey started as a St John cadet, in 2004 she became a Communications Operator within the Emergency Communication Centre and then trained and transitioned to her career as a paramedic in 2006. Alice works hard to ensure that all patients receive a high-level of care and compassion. Ensuring that they are comfortable, understand the treatment they are receiving and that their dignity is upheld. She actively involves herself in mentoring new staff and selflessly shares her knowledge and experience. Alice can often be found explaining clinical practice and procedures to new interns, running a series of experiments and ensuring that people actually understand how things work, not just the theory of the application. She has also taken a lead role in driver training, taking new recruits through the current handling of an ambulance and how to drive to Territory conditions. She genuinely lives and breathes her job - she leads by example and treats everyone equally with respect and care.
Career Highlights:
| Amy McCaffreyParamedicTime in service: 6 year Biography: Amy joined St John NT as a graduate in 2017 and is based in Alice Springs. She has developed her professional skills and a strong understanding of community needs in an environment that presents many paramedicine challenges and opportunities. She demonstrates great compassion and empathy towards all patients and goes out of her way to make sure they feel heard and understood, particularly when English is a second language. Amy created the online platform Outback Responders to provide support and knowledge for paramedics working in regional and remote locations. She is a dedicated mentor to intern paramedics. She is professional, caring and intelligent, and assists with workplace training and development to ensure that interns experience a positive graduate year, helping them to become excellent paramedics themselves.
Career highlights:
| Julieanne (Julie) PriorFirst Aid TrainerTime in service: 1 year Biography: Julie joined St John NT in January 2022 as a First Aid Trainer in the organisation’s commercial division in Alice Springs. The first aid trainers deliver nationally accredited courses to individuals and workplaces to ensure that members of the NT community know how to respond in an emergency and provide life-saving medical assistance. Julie's dedication to continuous improvement for her fellow colleagues and students is well known and appreciated. She works incredibly hard, receiving fantastic reviews from her students, who are always excited to attend her classes. She is a valued member of the team always willing to share her knowledge and experience and assists with St John NT volunteers. In 2022, Julie assisted with the CAA community education program for Restart a Heart Day helping to highlight the importance of all members of our community knowing CPR and how to use an AED.
Career Highlights:
| Kylie KillaleaArea Manager - KatherineTime in service: 16 years Biography: Being a strong leader, and a capable paramedic is only a small part of why Kylie is such an asset to both St John NT, and the paramedicine profession in general. After a long career (beginning in 2007) as a frontline paramedic within the Northern Territory, Kylie moved into supporting the Emergency Communication Centre as a manager, supporting the functions of ambulance service delivery from a different perspective. Kylie has now moved into an Area Manager role, supporting the Katherine area – two ambulance crews covering an isolated part of the NT. Kylie has made excellent relationships within the community, and these relationships have been invaluable as the healthcare system is strained on a constant basis. Kylie has also moved to support service delivery in other areas – including travelling to Nhulunbuy for an extended period to support operations as a manager. Due to her strong teambuilding and strengths-based leadership approach, there were competent and confident others ready to assume Kylie’s substantive role while she was away – highlighting the positive impact Kylie has.
Career Highlights: Kylie started with St John NT in 2007, and has held multiple roles within the organisation, from frontline Paramedic, Communications Centre Supervisor, Area Manager of Nhulunbuy, and now Area Manager Katherine. Kylie has always bought enthusiasm to whatever role she has been in and has consistently advocated for her staff and for those around her. | Lana HarmanEmergency Medical DispatcherTime in service: 5 years Biography: Lana joined St John NT in 2018 as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD), over the past five years she has demonstrated exceptional professional growth. In the last 12 months, Lana has developed her leadership and decision-making skills to become a confident and supportive leader. Throughout her career, Lana has demonstrated a keen interest in continuous improvement and developing others through mentoring. Lana has lost count of the amount of EMD Trainees she has assisted in her time with St John NT, all of whom speak highly of Lana’s approach to her duties and their learning. To further develop her skills and knowledge, Lana has also gained experience and qualification in quality assurance and is one of the first to offer her assistance in supporting the training team in the development of materials and reviewing calls to monitor centre compliance.
Career Highlights:
| Sabrina MasonHuman Resources OfficerTime in service: 9 years Biography: Sabrina joined St John NT in 2014 and has had the unique opportunity of working in both People and Culture and the Emergency Communication Centre (ECC). As a Human Resources Officer, Sabrina is often the first-person new recruits meet on their career journey with St John NT, taking candidates through the recruitment process and, once onboard, induction into the organisation. During the NT’s response to COVID-19, work for the recruitment team was significantly increased as employment of new recruits was accelerated to meet the increased demand in work and to prepare the workforce for a potential surge in cases due to the pandemic. In 2021, Sabrina took a 12-month placement within the ECC as a Service Desk Operator (SDO) where she was responsible for managing communication between remote medical clinics and District Medical Officers, providing a vital link in ensuring that medical advice could be provided to the clinics in some of the most locations in Australia. On returning to People and Culture Sabrina is now able to use her experience to assist in recruitment and a greater understanding of the challenges St John NT Emergency Medical Responders and paramedics face in their frontline roles.
Career Highlights: For 12 months, Sabrina undertook a new role as a Service Desk Operator (SDO) in the ECC. During this time, Sabrina not only excelled in the role as an SDO, but also utilised her skills to educate and support the ECC team with recruitment and additional administrative tasks. |
Alisha CossarArea Operations ManagerTime in service: 14 years Biography: After graduating with a Bachelor in Health Science - Paramedicine, Alisha worked in Australia as a Paramedic. Alisha then returned to New Zealand in 2008 as a Paramedic and achieved authority to practice at Intensive Care Paramedic Level. In 2018 Alisha became a Right Care Advisor, responsible to designing and implementing alternate patient pathways in the community to reduce hospital admissions and provide a greater scope of care for our patients. In 2021 Alisha became an Area Operations Manager in Auckland, responsible for the operations of a large geographical area within the busiest City in New Zealand. In 2022 Alisha spearheaded Emergency Consults in Auckland allowing Frontline staff to consult directly with a physician to determine the best care for low acuity patients.
| Jude ParkeNational Clinical Internship ManagerTime in service: 9 years Biography: Jude has undertaken different roles in the Emergency Ambulance Service in both frontline and management since 2013. In 2021 Jude gained the Clinical Internship Manager role. Since joining the Clinical Support management team, she has worked through many processes and pathways to improve the Internship Program focusing on consistency in delivery, preceptor course development and online access to increase the pool of preceptors and importantly ensuring the process and standard of care studies is at the academic level required to obtain an Authority to Practise as a Paramedic. Jude has also been pivotal in the development of the new Critical Care Paramedic internship process, which is in development to revamp the Clinical Assessment Day process to bring it and the graduate internship pathway pilot inline. Jude’s leadership spans across the Clinical Support leadership team and Ambulance Operations with clear, concise, well thought out new initiatives which has changed the face of the internship space.
Career Highlights: Started career in the Ambulance Sector in 2000 as a Basic Ambulance Skills Wellington Free Ambulance. Commenced national certificate and secured a full-time job as an intern in 2002. I worked my way through to ALS B (Advanced Life Support) before taking a year off the road in 2008 to work for the clinical department and help develop and write the new Paramedic program. Commenced degree with Whitireia and graduated as an ICP in 2011. In 2013 after moving a little further north accepted the role of Territory Manager - Horowhenua with St John. After 3 years in this role, I took a short break and came back to the road as an Intensive Care Paramedic working from Foxton and then Levin Station with the preceptor portfolio. In November 2021 joined the clinical team as the Clinical Internship manager. | Jackie ClappertonIntensive Care Paramedic/Nurse Practitioner/National AuditorTime in service: 24 years Biography: Jackie was the first, and still is the only, Nurse Practitioner/Intensive Care Paramedic working in a front-line ambulance in New Zealand. Unlike many other ambulance staff Jackie enjoys the low acuity jobs, where she can maximize both sets of skills to provide high quality care, often resulting in the patient not requiring transport to hospital. Jackie is always keen to teach her crew partners different approaches to patient care, often resulting in different outcomes and treatment pathways. The ability for Jackie to order x-rays, laboratory, and prescribe many different medications means a more streamlined approach for the patient and the primary health care provider. During some of her downtime Jackie also works for the National audit team and has done so for the last three years.
Career Highlights: Jackie was one of the first Emergency nurses to transfer her skills to paramedic before completing her (Intensive Care Paramedic) ICP qualification While working as an ICP Jackie completed her ‘Masters in Health Sciences’ in 2009 and became an Emergency Nurse Practitioner In 2020 Jackie became the inaugural Nurse Practitioner of the year in the New Zealand Primary Health Care Awards In 2016 a contract was created between St John and a rural health center for Jackie to work there as a NP locum for three months | Jo GallagherClinical Support ManagerTime in service: 35 years Biography: Jo is a highly respected hard working senior clinician (Registered Nurse & Paramedic) who has stepped up into clinical management. She was initially a Clinical Support Officer and then Clinical Team Manager, however, has most recently stepped up into the role of Clinical Support Manager. Jo also sat on the Ambulance Operations Student Leadership Training (SLT) during the COVID pandemic. Jo leads the ~135 Clinical Support personnel who deliver the 24/7 Clinical and Air Desks, was instrumental in standing up remote triage, and is responsible for the delivery of foundation training and continuing Clinical Excellence nationally in St John. Jo is a strategic thinker and delivers on such initiatives as the Air Desk and Clinical Support Officer resets. Jo’s experience and wisdom is generously shared amongst her colleagues, and she continues to be an example and inspiration to all people with her genuine empathy, integrity, and positive attitude. She shares this willingly through her above and beyond contribution to areas such as Women in Leadership and St John Youth.
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Suze HockingIntensive Care ParamedicTime in service: 10 + years Biography: Suze discovered her love for paramedicine as a volunteer shortly after moving to New Zealand in 2007. After completing her paramedic degree at Whitireia, she started working full-time for Wellington Free Ambulance (WFA) and quickly made her way up the ranks. Suze’s currently qualified as an Intensive Care Paramedic which was achieved in 2022. Early on, she discovered an enduring interest in mental health support for paramedics and the impact this rewarding, but demanding profession has on mental and emotional well-being. In 2021 she completed her master’s degree with a thesis focusing on adaptive vs. dysfunctional emotional detachment in emergency healthcare workers. Suze also enjoys coaching. She has been a preceptor and mentor for Emergency Medical Technicians preparing for their paramedic qualification. Her co-worker’s well-being remains her strongest passion. To that end, she has launched a professional supervision service and is currently obtaining her certificate in professional supervision. She also aided in developing the debriefing tool STOPP10 for WFA and liaised with the Employee Assistance Program service in providing an overview of paramedic needs.
Career Highlights:
| Natasha EllisQuality Assurance Lead - Clinical Communication CentreTime in service: 10 years Biography: Natasha has worked for Wellington Free Ambulance in the Clinical Communication Centre for over 10 years. In her roles as a call taker, dispatcher, and Quality Assurance lead she has had an incredible impact on staff and their career journeys. She provides support to all staff and is extremely passionate about their personal improvement. Her passion and dedicated approach to her work allows her to be an extremely valued and highly respected senior member of the team. Natasha builds strong relationships with all members of staff enabling her to have courageous, upbuilding and improvement centred conversations with ease. She is a natural leader within the organisation and is deeply respected by her peers and managers.
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Ruth DanielSenior Ambulance DispatcherTime in service: 11 years Biography: Ruth Daniel joined St John over 11 years ago, initially as a volunteer. As one of our longest-serving Operations Centre Officers, she has been an integral part of the expansion of the PNG St John Ambulance. When she first joined, she was one of only 4 control officers answering 111 phone calls off a prepaid mobile phone and manual dispatch. Ruth had previously worked at Port Moresby General Hospital and would meticulously write all patient and administration notes by hand. With the expansion of St John’s service, she has pushed herself to learn multiple computer systems and programs that are now integral to the National dispatching role she now holds. As a mother of five and grandmother to eleven, Ruth is a natural mentor and maternal figure to all that work with her. The calm in the storm, Ruth has a natural ability to work with all team members involved and teach the newer staff the intricacies behind the roles. She has recently completed a 4-week stint with St John WA and is already passing along all the titbits she has gained for the betterment of the officers around her.
Career Highlights: She has recently completed a 4-week stint with St John WA and is already passing along all the titbits she has gained for the betterment of the officers around her. | Ronnie PomatExecutive Officer - Office of the CEOTime in service: 4 years Biography: Ms Ronnie Pomat has been working as the Executive Officer for the Office of the CEO for the past four years, ensuring the Office of the CEO and St John Ambulance PNG runs efficiently which to her credit can be seen in its ongoing success. She regularly identifies a number of high-profile issues that require immediate intervention and uses her initiative to manage those issues. She quietly intervenes in a number of high-impact, potentially harmful situations that could have impacted the good name and service she has consistently enabled SJA to avoid some major ‘politically explosive’ situations. She is the epitome of selfless service and whilst she may not think her role is “prominent”, she has and is the calm, compassionate and professional face that our clients, distinguished guests, and staff engage with daily. With the influx of new staff, domestic and international partners, government leaders, and dignitaries, Ronnie has ensured through her empathetic and refined leadership that events, meetings, and signings have succeeded effortlessly often in times of staff shortages and national crisis. Her reach is across provinces and often across countries with orchestrating meetings, accommodation, and incidentals in a different country to where she is sitting. constant challenges it faces in times of the pandemic and every day.
Career Highlights: Her impact through the work she undertakes has been and continues to be integral to the success and impacts the services of the Ambulance and Clinical Operations in subtle ways. Throughout the entire COVID crisis and regional expansion, Ms. Pomat’s wise guidance and knowledge have enabled St John Ambulance to thrive and take on the constant challenges it faces in times of the pandemic and every day. Over the years she has successfully organised numerous activities to name a few; such as the St John’s Gala dinner, the swearing-in of St John’s Council, supported the extensive work of the Women in Ambulance Authority, the Pacific Ambulance Conference, and more recently the Opening of the new building of the National Ambulance Coordination Centre. All the named events ran without a hitch and cost-efficiently under Ms Pomat’s tutelage. Her openness and wisdom and respect for humanity result in her ability to effectively support employees, volunteers, and the CEO to better negotiate unchartered areas. She mentors and offers guidance to numerous staff at all levels. In addition, she regularly provides advice to international volunteers assisting them to work more effectively and learn the dos and don’ts of working in PNG, saving the volunteers and Overseas staff from embarrassment and sometimes more complex issues. | Diana MapeAmbulance Registered NurseTime in service: 2 years Biography: Originally joining St John as a casual registered nurse for our COVID19 operations, Diana has worked with St John since May 2021. Proactive, energised and organised, Diana has flourished as a prehospital clinician. Trained originally in the Highlands region of PNG, she has worked in multiple locations and nursing specialities before applying her nursing skills to the prehospital world of ambulance service. Since commencing with the ambulance team, Diana has taken on a led role in the clinical mentoring of the ambulance officers around her as well as informal education of the communities in which she serves. An integral part of our Aeromedical Retrieval Team, she has pushed herself to specialise in prehospital and retrieval care of critically injured and ill patients
Career Highlights: Originally joining St John as a casual registered nurse for our COVID19 operations, Diana has worked with St John since May 2021. Proactive, energised and organised, Diana has flourished as a prehospital clinician. Trained originally in the Highlands region of PNG, she has worked in multiple locations and nursing specialities before applying her nursing skills to the prehospital world of ambulance service. Since commencing with the ambulance team, Diana has taken on a led role in the clinical mentoring of the ambulance officers around her as well as informal education of the communities in which she serves. An integral part of our Aeromedical Retrieval Team, she has pushed herself to specialise in prehospital and retrieval care of critically injured and ill patients | Marissa TobolyExecutive Officer - Clinical OperationsTime in service: 2 years Biography: Ms Marissa Toboly joined St John during the height of the COVID19 pandemic in October 2020 as an administrative volunteer to the St John Incident Management Team. Throughout the COVID crisis, Marissa has been an unsung hero in our service working behind the scenes to coordinate the response to over 9000 covid swabs from 2020 onwards for clients around Port Moresby with 1000 in the first three months of 2022 alone. On call after hours, she was often called by clients late at night or early in the morning with demands for COVID tests with very short time frames yet managed to pull most of them off. Even without formal clinical training, she freely and fearlessly walked into the homes and offices of people who had suspected covid and represented St John to our national and international partners with a smile and compassionate greeting. Her coordination of the entire service ensured that we could comply with MOAs with large international clients as well as safeguard the community in a turbulent health crisis. Career Highlights: With the COVID demand decreasing, Marissa turned her attention to the coordination of our education and training of our ambulance officers, corporate staff, and ambulance operations centre team. Under her guidance, over 300 staff were trained in 2021 and 2022 in courses ranging from Ambulance Practice, COVID PPE, Customer Service and Operational Management. | Helen HariaAmbulance OfficerTime in service: 6 years Biography: Helen Haria is a qualified Ambulance Officer Level 2 serving St John Ambulance in Lae, Morobe province Papua New Guinea. On January 16th, 2017, Helen started working with St. John Ambulance as a reservist ambulance officer and she worked her way up to her current position. Helen established herself as a top-notch female ambulance attendant responding to incidents in Port Moresby and Lae city. Helen is one of the few women who shows that women can work shifts and attend to casualties in settlements, jails, and even crime scenes in the era when field officers in St. John Ambulance are predominately men. Her regular duties involve giving first aid treatment for situations like trauma, respiratory distress, labor women, snake bites, and other medical emergencies. Helen is observant and courageous enough to check the ambulance is tidy before attending to a new victim. She double-checks and makes sure the medical kits are fully supplied before another emergency arises. Helen was one of the ambulance officers that put in countless hours of work during the 2018 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Papua New Guinea. Career Highlights: Appointed as an acting Duty Operations manager in 2017 to oversee the operations for 3 months. | Noileen AoManager - ICTTime in service: 3 years Biography: Noileen commenced in 2019 at St John Ambulance PNG initially as an Assistant Computer Aided Dispatcher. Prior to working at St John, she gained her Diploma in Information Technology from Port Moresby Business College. Through her hard work, she was promoted to the Information Technology unit as an Administration Officer leading the data and systems development in a rapidly growing organization. A year later she was promoted to ITC Operations Support Senior Officer where she had to juggle work and two babies. Noileen’s second promotion in 2023 to Manager IT Services has been a recognition to her ability to successfully lead the implementation of a complex IT system into the specially built National Ambulance Operation Center and manage the implementation of effective IT systems in 5 other locations, some in remote locations with numerous challenges. This has required her to manage several key projects at once whilst coordinating internal and external IT users within Papua New Guinea. Working and leading her team in IT in PNG is extremely challenging, yet she never complains, as it is a developing country that requires her to think creatively and incredibly flexibly, traits that Noileen has and exudes to make impossible systems work efficiently. Career Highlights: Achieving her IT qualifications in a country with limited resources and transport while she put herself through college as a waitress. Gaining 3 promotions in 3 years through her extensive hard work while giving birth to 2 children in 2 years She successfully moved the entire CAD to another building introducing a much more complex IT system. Training staff a large number of staff with no IT skills to use all the required systems |
![]() | The CAA Women in Ambulance Awards are at this stage only open to women working in the 11 CAA member services from across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea (for a full list visit our Member Services page). Currently, the awards are not open to external companies. The nominations are handled by internal processes at the respective ambulance jurisdictions. Should you wish to put forward a deserving woman working in the ambulance sector please contact your manager and they will consider your nomination. |
Women in Leadership ForumThe Women in Leadership Forum aims to help empower current women employees, and foster thriving new careers for emerging females across the Ambulance Health Services. Learn more about the Women in Leadership Forum here. | ![]() |
![]() | Women in Leadership ScholarshipCAA offers the Women in Leadership Scholarship to encourage more women to step into leadership roles and to support the further development of current women leaders in the Ambulance Services Sector. Learn more about the Women in Leadership Scholarship here. |