16/01/2026
It has been a challenging start to the year for many Australian communities and frontline responders. Our thoughts continue to be with people who are doing it tough during natural disasters and other community emergencies.
Our St John Teams have been critically busy across states and territories, in preparation, active deployments and providing ongoing support - here to help ease the burden.
We are immensely proud of the efforts of St John volunteers and behind-the-scenes staff - helping people to be safer and more connected in disaster-impacted communities.
We want to give particular thanks to the people of St John and our allied agencies, who selflessly give their time, in often distressing and harsh conditions, at emergency relief and evacuation centres, field hospitals, and emergency operations and outreach locations.
St John has recently stepped up and stood beside our communities in the following ways:
🔸Providing first aid, health assessments, emergency medical supports, and mental health care at Emergency Relief Centres and staging grounds, with six deployments across Victoria in response to the bushfires.
🔸Supporting the NSW Incident Management Team and providing clinical and coordination support during the extreme heatwave conditions, including deployment at high-risk and mass gathering events.
🔸Supporting Queensland communities as severe weather conditions continue to develop, assisting with emergency response planning and preparedness efforts.
🔸Continuing community support in the aftermath of the Bondi Terror Attack – including supporting community members at a Recovery Hub, during memorial services, and with the Public Information Inquiry Centre.
🔸Educating the public on first aid and how to stay safe and healthy during extreme heat, fires, and storms.
We want to remind communities of the importance of connection and first aid care during these difficult times, as the summer season continues.
If you’ve been negatively impacted or distressed by these events, support is available and we encourage you to connect with services.
You can find out more at https://stjohn.org.au/what-we-do/disaster-response/
