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Auckland June 20, 2016
The contribution they make to New Zealanders health and wellbeing is priceless, but St John estimates its 9447 volunteers contribute more than $30 million dollars in value each year to its ambulance service and community health programmes.
St John is marking National Volunteer Week (19-25 June) with events and celebrations that recognise the talent and dedication of volunteers throughout the country.
This year St John Day (June 24) also falls within Volunteer Week.
Chief Executive Peter Bradley said, On behalf of St John, I want to thank our volunteers for their commitment, care, drive and passion. They make a positive difference in their communities, and we simply could not deliver our emergency services or community health programmes without them.
Make Time to Volunteer
National Volunteer Week 2016 is a call to action to make time for volunteering and the benefits it brings to communities. It is a theme that resonates strongly with St John volunteers, who are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, caring for others.
The snapshot below of 24 hours in the life of St Johns volunteers shows the depth and breadth of their extraordinary contribution.
The 15 volunteers featured range from volunteer ambulance officers responding to 111 calls in the early hours of the morning; to FEDs (Friends of the Emergency Department) providing comfort and support to patients and their families in hospital; to the volunteers providing medical services on the side lines of school sports; to the Area Committee members who support and guide the work St John does in local communities.
St John thanks its volunteers for making time – Kia Ora m tu whai w.
Last year thanks to St Johns 9447 volunteers:
7174 community events were provided with medical services
1189 Area Committee members supported local communities
1200 people received regular phone calls from one of our Caring Callers
279 therapy pets supported the emotional wellbeing of people in hospitals and rest homes
63996 trips were made by Health Shuttle volunteers taking people to health related appointments
2928 Ambulance Volunteers helped towards the 366,375 emergency incidents that were attended by ambulance crews
834 Friends of the Emergency Department and Hospital Friends volunteers helped patient families and loved ones in Emergency Departments and hospital wards across the country
1091 Youth Leaders made a positive impact on the lives of our 6,555 young penguins and cadets
70 volunteers in governance roles helped shape the future of St John.
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