Volunteering at events FAQs

Applicants must:

1. Be in excellent health and both medically and physically fit, as they will be asked to undertake a fitness and strength test.
2. Be New Zealand citizens or have permanent residence status and be living in New Zealand permanently.
3. Have a full New Zealand driver’s licence.
4. Complete a Police vetting.
5. Commit themselves to attending a minimum of four hours of event duty and one training session per month. The total commitment required is 60 hours per annum, which includes the 48 hours of event duty.

There are also personal qualities that interviewers will be looking for when recruiting volunteers.

If you are under 18 years of age, please refer to the St John youth section.

Please refer to our become a volunteer at events section for information on the recruitment and selection process.

If there are openings for event volunteers in your district and you are accepted, you will be assigned a mentor and asked to attend an induction course and regular meetings until you are fully trained.  Once you have completed training and received your uniform, you will be able to go on duty at events. It takes approximately six months to reach this level. An experienced member will supervise you for the first 30 hours of event duty.

All volunteers are required to attend at least four hours attendance at events each month and a minimum of one training session per month. Most active volunteers attend at least one event per fortnight, although some of our volunteers regularly attend several events each week. You may be asked to attend more events in the high season (February and March) than over the winter period. The total commitment required is 60 hours per annum, which includes the 48 hours of event duty.

Yes. You will be asked to attend an induction course initially. You will then be put on a comprehensive First Responder training course, comprising a balance of theory and practical skills that will allow you to use a wide range of equipment and provide initial patient care. This may take six months to complete.

Most volunteers will train to become a First Responder, but other options may be available,depending upon your personal ambitions and availability.

You can certainly indicate your interest for a certain event. Although this doesn’t guarantee you will be asked to attend that event, unless the event is an extremely popular one there is a strong possibility that your request will be granted. Event volunteers must be prepared to attend a range of event types and sizes, although personal event preferences will be considered wherever possible.

All Hato Hone St John volunteers at events wear the Hato Hone St John uniform. This includes a white shirt, green jersey and Hato Hone St John jacket. You will receive your uniform when you have completed the induction course. If you cease being a volunteer for Hato Hone St John, you will be required to give the uniform back to your district.

Hato Hone St John has event volunteers of all ages, ranging from 18 to 70+ years old. Our average age is 42 years. Our volunteers come from a wide range of backgrounds, occupations, ethnic groups and socio-economic groups.

Hato Hone St John event volunteers do not get paid. A small reimbursement may be given for event travel and meals, if these are not provided.

Hato Hone St John has many volunteer opportunities.  Non-clinical volunteer support roles at events include catering, communications, administration and logistics. If you are interested in any of these roles, please phone or complete an online enquiry form.