Q. What made you become a volunteer ambulance officer?
A. I saw an ad in this paper and thought it would be a challenging and rewarding way to become a valued part of my Ruakaka community.
Q. What did you need to join?
A. A clean Police record, clean full drivers licence, a good command of English, the right attitude, and good health and fitness
Q. What qualifications or training do you need before joining?
A. I only had School C English, (years ago!!), and Hato Hone St John has provided all the courses I have needed to do.
Q. What training is provided?
A. Hato Hone St John can assist with a Workplace 1st Aid course, and then I was fully funded to attend all St John courses which included Induction, Driving, Manual Handling and Personal Safety initially, and since then, this has lead to me completing the National Diploma in Ambulance Practice, over a 2 ½ year period. You decide the level you wish to achieve, i.e. the initial 1st Responder/ Ambulance Assistant officer, to National Diploma & onward.
Q. What commitment did Hato Hone St John want?
A. I only had to commit to 1 shift a week, 1 training night a fortnight, (attend the training courses when required), and attend the odd Event. (I am a farmer, and mother to 2 school children)
Q. You’re a volunteer primarily but can this lead to paid work?
A. There are opportunities, once you are National Diploma qualified, to apply to join the pool of part-time paid Ambulance Officers, which may lead you to fulltime employment.
Q. Does it cost anything to be a volunteer with Hato Hone St John?
A. Apart from the boots, all the uniform is provided
- we get partial amount for travel expenses
- all training is free
- all study books, stationery and resources are supplied
- the only cost is your time and commitment – approx 1 12hr shift per week
Q. Is it fun though, or is it all rather serious?
A. As a volunteer, we choose to be there, and we become passionate about the work; we are part of a positive team. We have a Social Club that allows us trips out, (usually based around a Hato Hone St John event), and leads to many team building fun days out.
Interviewed: Dec 2011 by Bream Bay News