In honour of International Volunteers Day, we asked Kristy and Christine, two of our amazing volunteers, why they chose to volunteer with us and what it's like to work with St John.

Kristy Barker is part of the Australian Volunteer Programme and has been volunteering with St John Papua New Guinea (PNG) since August 2022.

Her role as Staff Health and Wellbeing Mentor is to address staff health and well-being for both clinical and non-clinical staff. "My main responsibilities are to address nutrition, exercise, financial literacy, lifestyle choices, and workplace culture to increase overall health."

Why did you want to volunteer with St John?
As an Australian, I am familiar with the reputation of St John Australia (SJA), and when I was looking for an opportunity to be part of St John, I came across the position at St John Papua New Guinea. I liked the job description and the opportunity it offered to help with staff well-being.

Did you have any previous volunteer experience before joining St John?
I enjoyed a range of volunteer experiences, from community to state to national and international. This is my second assignment with AVP; my first was in 2020 in the Solomon Islands, which was cut short due to COVID-19.

How did you hear about volunteering at St John?
As international borders started to open, I was watching for suitable positions with AVP. I was very happy to see the St John PNG position and eagerly applied for it.

What do you hope to gain from your volunteer experience? 
A new and different experience; I am hoping to learn how to take my skills and knowledge and apply them in a different culture and environment.

"The act of giving and volunteering is good for our own mental health; I highly recommend volunteering in whatever capacity you are able to."

Kristy Barker

What is your typical day like?
In my role, a typical day is never the same. One day could be spent at the market buying fresh fruits and vegetables for the staff. Another could be teaching mental health first aid. Or I could be working at my desk, organising events and planning for employee well-being.

What would you say is the most valuable skill you gained from your time volunteering at St John?
Flexibility to adapt between a range of tasks and changing priorities.

What are your career goals as a volunteer? 
To create some small differences that have a lasting impact.

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Christine Turner has been actively involved with St John Ambulance Northern Territory (St John NT) for over thirty years and was recently commended for the 2022 Chief Minister's Volunteer of the Year Award.

During her time with St John NT, Christine has held many positions, including Divisional officer, Territory officer for cadet and regional training, and Superintendent for the Humpty Doo Combined Division.

Why did you want to volunteer with St John?
I saw volunteering with St John NT as a great opportunity to get involved in my local community. Attending local events and providing first aid has been a great way to meet so many people from all walks of life. Helping people is something that I really enjoy, and volunteering has given me a lot of opportunities to do that.

Did you have any previous volunteer experience before joining St John?
I joined as a volunteer with St John NT when I was 17 years old, with no previous volunteer experience.

How did you hear about volunteering at St John?
In 1979, I was looking for a job and applied for a few different things, including a position working for St John NT. Unfortunately, when I got the call-back, I had already accepted another position the week before. They mentioned that I could still volunteer with St John NT if I were interested, and I thought that it sounded like a great idea, so I signed up to do a first aid course for volunteers early the following year.

"Volunteering has proved to be an excellent pathway to develop my own skills and knowledge in first aid as well as to share those skills with others as a trainer."

Christine Turner

What do you hope to gain from your volunteer experience? 
As a volunteer for St John NT, I have been able to develop my clinical skills and gain qualifications and certificates in training and leadership. I hope to be able to continue sharing the skills that I have learned to support other volunteers as they progress from cadets to adult volunteers.

What is your typical day like?
No two days are ever the same, and it really depends on what we have going on at the time. We hold divisional nights once a week, which I attend as Superintendent and assist in providing training and skills development for the division members.

There are some weekends when I find myself putting my hand up for multiple events and going from one event in the day to another in the evening. We go where we are needed, and the hours usually depend on how long the events last and the level of coverage that they require.

"I really enjoy helping people, and it is always my goal to be able to support the youth volunteers as they progress and grow."

Christine Turner

What would you say is the most valuable skill you gained from your time volunteering at St John?
Volunteering with St John NT has provided me with an extensive range of first-aid skills and knowledge. I have gained access to training and development opportunities that have allowed me to elevate my clinical skills and obtain qualifications as an advanced responder.

What are your career goals as a volunteer?
I have achieved many goals throughout my career as a volunteer. One of the most memorable was being a part of the Adult National Volunteer Competition back in the 1980s. The competition was a lot of fun, and my team took home the win, which was very exciting. Being chosen in 1990 as one of the contingents from Australia to go to the Commonwealth Games in Auckland and provide first aid to participants and members of the public was a huge highlight.

St John is incredibly lucky to have so many volunteers, like Kristy and Christine, who work tirelessly to influence, support, and connect with their local communities. Today, we want to thank all volunteers around the world for everything you do for us.

Learn more about our services and programmes.

5 December 2022