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Phone: +1 213 974-3898
During 2021 we continued to play a significant role in helping NSW deal with and navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. St John NSW stepped forward when needed most – throughout the rise and eventual peak of the Omicron variant, during the vaccination roll-out and through a further series of lockdowns.
We rose to meet the challenge, and provided support through:
"We owe a huge debt of gratitude to those working in hotel quarantine who’ve gone above and beyond to keep NSW safe."
Susan Pearce
State Health Emergency Operations Centre (SHEOC) Controller and Secretary of NSW Health
In 2021, we provided:
Over 200,000 hours of frontline COVID support
599 members to support various efforts
More than 32,000 shifts supporting testing and screening at over 70 locations including quarantine hotels, airports, transports hubs, and testing clinics.
Team effort at local vaccination clinic
Abi was one of a number of St John NSW members working at vaccination clinics across NSW. She was stationed at the Prairiewood Vaccination Clinic and part of a team that worked tirelessly to help support over 90,000 vaccinations administered to the local community.
Speaking of her experience, she said:
"Long, exhausting days but so worth every second of it working alongside a group of dedicated people from all walks of life, contributing in what we could in this pandemic. Together, we can make such a difference, and we did it!"
Supporting vulnerable communities
St John NSW volunteers helped create and deliver food hampers for vulnerable people Sydney communities throughout COVID-19 lockdowns in 2021. It was just one of many ways that St John NSW was actively involved in helping local communities during this pandemic.
Through a partnership with Sonic Healthcare, St John NSW helped to provide a range of support at vaccination clinics across the state. Hubs were opened in communities including Blacktown, Campbelltown, and Sydney CBD. Our members provided key administrative, logistical, and clinical support including:
Marshals – As people arrived, a St John NSW marshal screened for COVID-19 symptoms checked temperatures and directed people through the vaccination hub.
Receptionists – Our teams helped greet people and ensured their booking was correct.
Clinical – A key role was to observe and monitor people who had received their vaccination, making sure there were no adverse reactions.
Vaccinators – St John NSW teams helped administer thousands of daily vaccinations.
More than 20,000 vaccinations were being administered weekly at the peak of the pandemic in 2021.
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Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, St John NSW members have provided logistical, administration and triaging support at local health districts. This included temperature screening, swab transportation and administering vaccines to help ease the burden on the NSW Health system.
St John NSW volunteer David Lam puthis hand up to provide COVID-19 vaccinations and testing throughout thepandemic. During his time volunteering, David was deployed to support COVIDefforts in the hotel quarantine system. During this time, David assisted with providing vaccinations to Afghani refugees – a moment he describes as an“emotional moment because it was a ‘flashback’ to when I was a refugee myself.”
"When you look into their eyes, you can see the trauma they suffered…” he described. “I was able to reassure them and spoke of how I went from a refugee to what I am today, how Australia is a bright star in what can be a world of darkness."
David believed his experiences are a driver for serving others and showing people that there is hope amidst the chaos around the world. His voluntary contributions and service to the community has played a crucial role in St John NSW helping our state continue the road to recovery out of COVID-19.
In 2021, significant rainfall caused flooding in communities across NSW. St John NSW members worked closely with NSW Health, State Emergency Services (SES) and the NSW Police to deploy at evacuation centres in areas like Tamworth, Lismore, Armidale, Kingscliff and Sydney.
Our members provided more than 1,800 hours of first aid and mental health support to those in distress – many people having lost belongings, pets and homes. They also were stationed at the Police Information and Inquiries Centre (PIIC), responding to phones calls received day and night from those in need. This communication role makes a difference to so many, giving them the reassurance they need, from the people they trust.
Breakout: One of the members who was deployed to an evacuation centre was Louise, our Peer Support Program Lead, who at one time was responsible for accompanying residents back to view their homes for the first time. Louise and other members, were asked to travel by bus with the residents to support them with psychological first aid.
"The local people returning to their homes were extremely anxious and scared due to the uncertainty of what confronted them. Their fears related to their properties, belongings, photos, memories and cars which were all lost or extremely badly damaged."
Our St John NSW teamstood beside the local residents when they opened their doors to see the devastation and destruction that the flood waters had caused. Having our St John NSW team there, to turn to, made all the difference.
