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Thank you to the ongoing support from the community which enables us to deliver our extensive range of community programs and services in South Australia.

One of those programs, called First Aid in Schools, is an initiative we provide free of charge to teach lifesaving first aid skills to South Australian primary school children. I’d like to share with you the impact this program has and how you can help make even more of a difference.

Something we have noticed is that the little lifesavers we train across SA are often the only ones at home with a parent or caregiver when an emergency arises. By equipping them with essential first aid skills, our children gain the confidence and knowledge to act swiftly and effectively when faced with an emergency. Through our program, kids learn how to call an ambulance, treat a range of injuries, respond to an unconscious person, assess danger, and for older students, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

These skills are not only vital for immediate response but also foster a lifelong awareness of the importance of first aid, nurturing individuals who contribute to community resilience and safety. I want to share an example of how the first aid in schools program helped a young South Australian to save her father’s life.

At just six years old, Year 1 student Emily* found her father unresponsive during a medical episode. With remarkable composure and courage, Emily sprang into action, using the knowledge she had gained from the St John First Aid in Schools program. She quickly alerted her mother, who was on a nearby property. Emily then assisted her mother while on the phone with emergency services, checking her father’s breathing and responses, and guiding the ambulance team upon their arrival.

Emily’s mother commented that Emily acted beyond her years and that the outcome could have been tragically different without the first aid training Emily received. Thanks to her quick thinking and the skills she learned, Emily’s dad made a full recovery. This shows just how profound the impact of first aid education can be on our young students and the wider South Australian community.

Our aim is for every child in South Australia to have access to this invaluable training, but we need your help to achieve this goal. Whether you have children or grandchildren of your own, nieces or nephews or simply care about childhood education and wellbeing, then I am sure you understand the importance of them having lifesaving knowledge.

This financial year, we are on track to train over 10,000 South Australian primary school children in lifesaving first aid skills. However, we want to keep growing this number to ensure more kids in SA can help save lives. The First Aid in Schools program is a community service we proudly offer free of charge, but it costs us $10 per child to deliver this training. As you can work out, the costs quickly add up.

That is why we need your help to continue this vital work. Your generous support will enable us to equip more South Australian children with the skills and confidence to respond effectively in emergencies. Kids are often the only ones at home with a parent, grandparent, or sibling. We want to ensure that no child is left feeling helpless in a confronting emergency situation. Can you give a lifesaving gift of $20 today?

With your donation, you can help us teach children how to call an ambulance, control bleeding, manage an unconscious person, treat bites and stings, put someone in the recovery position, respond to choking, and perform lifesaving CPR. First aid is a skill everyone should possess, but unfortunately, not even all adults have this knowledge. A tax-deductible donation of $20 or a very generous $50 will help us build a generation of lifesavers in our community.

I have no doubt you value the importance of our First Aid in Schools program and thank you in advance for any support you can provide to our young people. Your contribution will directly impact the lives of young South Australians, providing them with the tools they need to save lives and build a safer, more resilient community. Together, we can ensure that every child in South Australia has the knowledge and confidence to act in an emergency.

Thank you for your continued support and generosity.