- Published:
- Monday, 19 May 2025 at 9:00 am
The Rochester Ambulance Auxiliary has boosted its numbers in recent months, welcoming five new members, with other community-focused locals also encouraged to volunteer.
This National Volunteer Week (19 - 25 May) Ambulance Victoria (AV) is recognising the efforts of all volunteers across the organisation, including our dedicated Auxiliary members.
Volunteering with an AV Auxiliary committee is a great way to support the local community and the work of paramedics, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and Ambulance Community Officers (ACO) across the state.
Rochester ACO and Ambulance Auxiliary president David Harris joined the Auxiliary about 10 years ago to help positively impact his community.
“I do it because the work we do to help the community and the local AV branch could save someone’s life,” he said.
“We help to provide additional training and medical equipment and play a vital role in ensuring ongoing community engagement on behalf of AV.
“Currently, we’re focused on funding more 24-hour accessible automated external defibrillators (AED) for the town, and the devices we’ve implemented so far have already been used in emergencies.”
As well as funding more AED’s, the Rochester Auxiliary has purchased additional training and on-road equipment for local AV crews including suction units and evacuation mats.
While the group has recently welcomed new members, David said the door is always open to anyone interested in signing up.
“AV Auxiliary volunteers are ordinary people doing extraordinary things,” David said.
“Our Auxiliary is made up of people from different careers and backgrounds whose own skills and perspectives help us to reach our goals.
“We’re always looking for more community-minded people to join and everyone is welcome.”
Currently, there are about 350 Auxiliary volunteers across more than 40 locations in Victoria.
More information about Ambulance Auxiliaries.
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