St John NT has welcomed the Northern Territory Government’s announcement of a $10 million support package, as contract negotiations continue and pressure on the ambulance system remains high.
Chief Executive Officer Abigail Trewin AM said the funding acknowledged what had been evident for some time, that demand on the Territory’s ambulance service is sustained and increasing.
“We know that the Chief Minister understands that Territorians who need critical care should not have to wait for an ambulance, and that the Finocchiaro government is working to address this year-on-year deficiency through the contract agreement.
“The $10 million support package will provide short-term relief, but it does not address the structural issues that have developed over many years,” Ms Trewin said.
St John NT said the system has been under sustained pressure, with workforce strain, rising demand and response time challenges now requiring long-term action.
In 2025, Operational Research in Health (ORH) data indicated that demand on the ambulance service was projected to grow by approximately 3.9 per cent per year across the Territory, equating to an increase of around 17–20 per cent over the next four to five years. This aligns with observed trends, where incident volumes have already increased significantly over recent years and are forecast to continue rising across the Territory.
The funding will enable St John NT to recruit one additional ambulance crew, and two additional call takers. While this will provide some immediate support, it will not materially improve system-wide wait times.
“We see this announcement as a support package, not a solution,” Ms Trewin said.
St John NT Chair, Peter Carew AM said that he recognises the Government’s commitment to progressing a new contract.
“What is now required is a long-term agreement that provides certainty, sustainability and a funding model aligned to actual demand.
“Without that reset, the gap between demand and capacity will continue to widen,” Mr Carew said.
“This is about getting the fundamentals right, a service model, contract and funding base that reflect real demand, supports our workforce and delivers the level of care Territorians deserve.”
Media – please note that St John NT will not being doing any interviews regarding this announcement.
