NSW Volunteers Arrive at Emergencies in Under 2 Minutes

When someone called 000 in The Rock, Australia, volunteer Kathleen Sneddon arrived at their door in just two minutes. She stabilized the patient and had them ready before the ambulance even left the city.

The Rock is a town of 1,300 people in rural New South Wales, where waiting for an ambulance can mean the difference between life and death. But Sneddon isn't a paramedic—she's part of a Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT.

These volunteers undergo nine months of intensive training paid for by Ambulance NSW. They learn everything from performing CPR to delivering emergency medication, handling cardiac arrests to farm accidents.

Once qualified, volunteers work on-call rosters in pairs with access to ambulance vehicles and equipment. When a 000 call comes in, they respond immediately while paramedics travel from distant stations.

"Think of it as first aid, but on steroids," Sneddon said. In their first month alone, The Rock's CERT team responded to more than 15 emergencies.

Fellow volunteer Lisa Driscoll said the training prepared her for anything. "We've had a cardiac arrest, motor vehicle accidents, and pretty much anything in between," she said.

The teams can perform CPR, monitor vital signs, and relay critical information to incoming paramedics. They also share local knowledge, like access issues to a patient's home or shortcuts through town.

Once the ambulance arrives, CERT volunteers step back and let paramedics take over. But those crucial first minutes can save lives.

The Ripple Effect

Seven other NSW communities now have operational CERT teams, from Harrington on the coast to Packsaddle in the far west. The Harrington team alone responded to 60 calls in their first six weeks.

Darren Bourke, a retired army member who volunteers in Harrington, said the program does more than provide medical care. "Just by putting that hand on the shoulder, we've calmed them down and they feel a sense of help straight away," he said.

For aging rural communities that often feel isolated, especially during floods and bushfires, having neighbors trained to respond brings peace of mind. Patients feel less anxious knowing help arrives quickly.

Mark Gibbs from Ambulance NSW said the program bridges critical gaps in response times. "In an ideal world, we would have an ambulance on every corner," he said.

The organization is actively looking to expand CERT programs to more communities across the state. For rural Australians, these volunteer squads represent something powerful: neighbors caring for neighbors when every second counts.