STATEMENTS BY SENATORS
Senator CAROL BROWN (Tasmania) (12:55): I rise to speak about a recent event that I had the opportunity to host here at Parliament House as Co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of St John Ambulance Australia. It brought together colleagues, volunteers and frontline leaders to hear directly about St John's work across the country. I want to acknowledge: Brendan Maher, the CEO of St John Ambulance Australia; General David Hurley, who chairs the organisation's disaster response, resilience and recovery advisory group; the Minister for Emergency Management, Minister McBain, for attending and for giving so much of her time to this event; and, of course, my co-chair, Senator Andrew McLachlan.
St John is an organisation that most Australians recognise. For many, it is the volunteers at community events, the first aid courses we take at school or work, or the quiet presence of the trained responders ready to step in when something goes wrong. What became very clear through this event is that St John's role goes far beyond what many people see day to day.
It is in many ways part of Australia's national safety net. Across the country, St John supports millions of Australians each year through first aid training, event health services and community programs, alongside a skilled volunteer workplace that plays a critical role during emergencies. As disasters become more frequent and complex, that role is only growing.
Organisations like St John are essential to how we prepare for, respond to and recover from those events. One of the things that stood out to me during the event was just how practical and grounded this work is. We saw first aid demonstrations.
We spoke with volunteers who had been deployed into disaster zones. We heard about the simple interventions that can stabilise somebody in a critical moment and, in many cases, save a life. That is the power of first aid.
The aid given first does save lives. Disaster preparedness is not only about systems; it's about whether someone nearby knows what to do in those first few minutes. That is where St John's training and community education are so valuable.
At the same time, the event also highlighted some of the challenges the organisation is facing. St John operates across every state and territory, while disaster response systems in Australia are primarily organised at the state level. That can create a practical challenge when it comes to coordinating volunteers, aligning training standards and deploying some people quickly across borders when they need it most.
We also heard about the increasing demand on volunteers and the need to ensure that this workforce is supported, trained and equipped to respond safely and effectively. These are not small issues; they go to the heart of how Australia manages risk in a more uncertain climate. I welcome St John's practical proposal to address some of these challenges.
They have focused on stronger coordination, better cross-border deployment, increased training and upgraded systems. This is at the heart of their proposal in their prebudget submission to government. It's a modest proposal with the potential to deliver real improvements in how we manage disasters.
Importantly, this will complement the work that the states and territories already do. It recognises that, in large-scale events, no single agency or jurisdiction can do everything alone. We need systems that work together, and we need organisations that can operate effectively across those boundaries.
Another point that came through strongly was the value of volunteers. St John has one of the largest volunteer networks in the country. These are people who give their time, their skills and their energy to help others, often in very challenging circumstances.
They are a critical part of our disaster response capability, but they're also part of the social fabric of our communities. Events like the one held yesterday matter because they give us a clearer picture of what is working, where the gaps are and what practical steps you can take. I want to thank St John Ambulance Australia for the work that they do every day to keep Australians safe.
I also want to acknowledge the volunteers and staff who continue to step up, often without recognition, to support others in times of need. Their work saves lives, it supports community and it strengthens our country. Organisations like St John are a key part of that effort when it comes to disaster preparedness, and getting it right matters.