Julia has been involved with St John for many years, starting as a volunteer Ambulance and Events Officer from 2011 to 2015 before joining the ambulance service full time. She has since held roles as an Ambulance Officer, Paramedic, Station Manager, and Group Operations Manager. Alongside her paid roles, she has been a volunteer Community Educator since 2013.
Julia has worked tirelessly to support and recruit volunteers, managing the recruitment process across two ambulance territories. She has worked with universities to develop pathways that support new graduates and students into St John in a structured and supportive way. This approach has led to a very high volunteer success rate, helping staff progression, double crewing, and maintaining full rosters.
She also supported the start-up of the St John in Schools programme and delivers Three Steps for Life sessions to the public, educating both the St John family and the wider community. Seeing a gap in AED access, particularly at local Marae, Julia fundraised, delivered, and installed AEDs, while training community members in their use. This demonstrates the St John values in action.
Julia played a key role in the Waihi Station Building Project. Reflecting on her experience, she says:
“Carrying on from many years of hard work that past teams and people have contributed, and working with our Area Committee, Property, Fundraising, Communications, Media teams, local businesses, our staff and local iwi for the Waihi Station Building Project. From finding a site to then moving to a temporary station, along with planning and input to move into the new station, I have been extremely lucky to work with such amazing people who have helped make this a success. While lots of learning along the way with challenges tackled along the way, communication has been key.
Working as a team we successfully implemented, in addition to years of fundraising, a 111 Challenge to raise money for the new building. This started off as an idea, then became reality with the help of internal and external parties.”
Julia is also passionate about recognising the achievements of St John members, saying:
“I feel strongly about our members being recognised for their achievements, in particular the service awards. I feel they are very important, and I help out here where needed.”
