The Territory’s future health leaders were put to the test at the weekend, competing in realistic scenarios that challenged their judgement, teamwork and first aid skills.
For many St John NT youth members, those skills become the foundation for future careers across ambulance and other health services.
This year’s Youth Competition centred on flood response, with teams required to lead, communicate, problem-solve and support each other as simulated emergencies changed and escalated around them.
For 14-year-old Katherine youth member Neveah Willcox, the flood theme reflected an emergency she had already experienced first-hand, after her own family home was inundated during major flooding earlier this year.
While the emergency unfolded, she spent much of the response at the Katherine ambulance station with her mum, Ambulance Support Coordinator and Katherine Adult and Youth Divisional Officer Tamara Willcox, seeing first-hand how ambulance crews, volunteers and other services adapted to a rapidly changing situation.
On Saturday, that real-world experience was evident.
During the competition’s major flood simulation, Neveah took the lead in caring for an NTES volunteer turned patient who had become trapped beneath a boat, while also ensuring her teammates were supported in managing their own patients.
“I think having seen the floods in Katherine helped me stay focused because I already understood how quickly things can change and how important it is to work together,” Neveah said.
“I was trying to make sure the patient was okay, but also checking that everyone in my team was okay with the patients they were treating too.
“We were one of the younger teams, and I'm really proud of how we handled it.”
The Katherine Youth Division delivered an impressive performance across the day, showing composure, confidence and skills beyond their years.
That capability was reflected across the competition, with each team interpreting the scenarios, adapting as conditions changed and finding practical solutions to challenges including the major flood simulation, a mental health crisis response, and emergency shelter construction.
Strong performances across the scenarios kept the competition tight through to the final results.
Parap Youth Division were named NT champions and will head to Perth in January to contend for the national title.
St John NT Territory Youth Officer Makaylia Ravlich said the competition highlighted the capability, resilience and leadership potential of the organisation’s young members.
“Throughout the day, we saw them rise to every challenge put in front of them,” Makaylia said.
“Every team showed confidence, teamwork and maturity beyond their years, making decisions under pressure and supporting one another through complex scenarios. They should all be proud of their efforts.
“Our youth program is about building those skills early, and seeing them applied like this gives us a lot of confidence in the next generation coming through St John and into paramedicine and health roles across the Territory.”
The 2026 St John NT Youth Competition reflected the strong working relationship between Territory first responders, with the Northern Territory Emergency Service (NTES) providing the venue and contributing significant time and volunteer support throughout the day.
St John NT sincerely thanks NTES for helping make the competition possible, and acknowledges the generous support of event sponsors Kalano Community Association Inc, INPEX, Darwin Discovery Park, Hon Gerard Maley MLA, Hon Jo-Anne Hersey MLA, Selena Uibo MLA, Justine Davis MLA, Khoda Patel MLA, Brian O'Gallagher MLA and Oly Carlson MLA.
To learn more about the St John NT Youth Program, head to www.stjohnnt.org.au/volunteers
