ST JOHN NT
NEWSROOM

Have you ever wondered who the voices are on the other end of a Triple Zero (000) call? Did you know that they’re located right here in the Northern Territory, either in Berrimah or Alice Springs?

We had a chat with Andy, the current Training and Administration Support Officer in our Emergency Call Centre and one of our 2022 Council of Ambulance Authorities Women in Ambulance Honour recipients.

Andy joined St John NT as an emergency medical dispatcher (EMD) after five years with Queensland Ambulance Service.

“As a family, we were looking for a change of scenery. We’ve always loved our holidays in Darwin so we decided to move here – and we love it!

“I had never even thought of an EMD as a specific role - my previous work experience was predominately a customer service background in hospitality, banking and insurance with no exposure to the health industry.

“I saw the role advertised at a point when I was looking for a new opportunity and thought ‘I could do that!’ The rest is clearly history! I started with St John NT as an EMD before progressing to a Communications Supervisor role and then to my current Training and Administration Support role.

“Working with people for 12 hours at a time, you inevitably form friendships within the workplace. You develop a special kind of understanding and appreciation for the work each of us do and the impact our work has on the general public.

“Whether you are getting help to an elderly person who has had a fall, talking to a parent who is feeling very stressed because their child is unwell or injured, or administering CPR instructions, you know that you are genuinely helping people in a time of need.

“Whilst this role can often at times go unseen, within yourself and as a team you can acknowledge the difference you make by ensuring the right help gets to the right people at the right time.”

When asked about her Women in Ambulance Honour award, Andy said she was humbled by the recognition.

“To know that someone has taken the time to put forward a nomination and subsequently, be recognised for my work within the industry is an honour. Also, to be recognised on the same platform as other women within the industry with whom I hold with such high respect is truly humbling.

“I have been so fortunate during my time at both Queensland Ambulance Service and St John NT to have worked with such inspiring women who hold significant leadership roles within the industry.

“Currently at St John NT, we have Judith as our CEO, and the Acting Communications Manager is Taleaha, both of whom I hold great respect for and admiration for. Fortunately for us today, the women who have worked in the industry before us, have really paved the way and elicited change to ensure women today have equal opportunity within the ambulance sector, for which I am genuinely grateful.

“You can often forget in your day-to-day tasks the impact that your role has on the general public. This really cemented that I’m still in the right industry and I’m still making a positive impact upon society.”

Andy’s song of the week is Heatwaves by Glass Animals.