First Aid Champion Awards
Nominate Yourself or Someone You Know
Nominations are now open for 2025
Who is your first aid champion?
Organised by St John Ambulance Victoria, the annual First Aid Champion Awards provides a unique opportunity for Victorians to honour those who have made a real impact to people’s lives, whether as unsung heroes, colleagues, classmates, friends or family members.
In a mission to thank and acknowledge Victorians who have displayed goodwill and courage by providing emergency First Aid, we hope to inspire others throughout the community to mirror these acts of heroism in times of need.
Why nominate your first aid champion?
It's important to honour those who have helped someone with First Aid during an emergency situation. The overall winner of the 2025 awards will receive a St John Ambulance Defibrillator to gift to a community group of their choice - it could be a school, a charity, local sporting club or anywhere the overall winner thinks the life saving defibrillator can most benefit the community.
First aid champions present themselves in different circumstances so we're awarding those in the following categories:
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Junior First Aid Champion (Under 12)The category is open to children younger than 12 who have demonstrated excellent First Aid knowledge to help in a time of need. |
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Youth First Aid Champion (Under 18)The category is open to young individuals aged between 13-17 who have helped others in a First Aid emergency situation. |
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CPR First Aid ChampionThe category is open to an individual who has demonstrated the necessary knowledge and skills that have helped someone in a CPR incident. |
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Community First Aid ChampionThe category is open to all members of the general public, aged 18 and above, who have demonstrated a great act of service with their First Aid skills in a time of need, anywhere in the community. |
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Workplace First Aid ChampionThe category is open to an individual that has demonstrated the necessary knowledge and skills that have helped a colleague in a First Aid incident in the workplace. |
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St John Volunteer ChampionThe category is open to current or former St John Ambulance Victoria volunteers who have demonstrated their first aid knowledge and skills in an emergency situation while off-duty/out of uniform in the community. |
Who Can Nominate?
Anyone can nominate themselves or another person for a First Aid Champion Award.
Important Information
- The incident in the nomination must have occurred in the last 18 months
- An individual only needs to be nominated once to be considered for an award
- Nominees must be residents of Victoria
Should you have any queries about your nomination feel free to contact media@stjohnvic.com.au
Past Champions
Siblings Fletcher and Mavis demonstrated extraordinary bravery by saving their Dad's life after he had an epileptic seizure. A normal day splitting wood turned nightmare when Dad Jeremy suddenly collapsed. Whilst following the DRSABCD action plan, Fletcher removed the axe from the area and sent his youngest sister, Mavis, for help. When he noticed his father was turning blue, he moved him into the recovery position, allowing his father to cough and clear his airway. Whilst on the phone to the first responders, he calmly and clearly provided personal details for his father.
Nicholas’ bravery was tested when his Dad, George, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while at Nonna’s house. Thanks to Nicholas’ quick thinking and skilled CPR, George was stabilised until emergency services arrived.
Today, George is making a full recovery, and the bond between father and son has never been stronger. Nicholas’s actions are a powerful reminder of the life-saving impact of knowing first aid and the strength of a family’s love.
On June 11th 2024, when his colleague Ricardo collapsed, Raj immediately recognised the signs of cardiac arrest. Without hesitation, he began the DRSABCD procedure, started CPR, and quickly retrieved a defibrillator, all while keeping his composure.
Raj's prompt and skilled response was vital in stabilising Ricardo until paramedics arrived. His training with St John Ambulance proved invaluable, not just in providing immediate care but also in ensuring Ricardo received the medical attention he needed.
While helping his family move furniture, Peter's life took a dramatic turn when he suddenly collapsed from cardiac arrest, turning blue. Stevie sprang into action with remarkable courage - performing CPR to buy precious time until paramedics arrived. They defibrillated Peter, and he was rushed to The Royal Melbourne Hospital, where he eventually regained consciousness. Peter has since made a full recovery, but he knows that Stevie’s quick thinking and decisive actions saved his life.
A family birthday celebration took a terrifying turn last year when 21-year-old Chloe began choking. Chloe suddenly gasped as she couldn't breathe and walked to the garden in a desperate attempt to get air. Despite her mother's efforts to keep her calm and administer back thrusts, the object remained lodged. She began to lose consciousness, but luckily her uncle, Paul, swiftly stepped in. Applying the necessary force, he delivered a powerful blow between her shoulder blades, dislodging the obstruction just in time. Chloe quickly recovered, thanks to Paul's life-saving actions.
Phil came home from work to encounter a terrifying situation. His daughter, Annabel, suddenly collapsed becoming unresponsive - she had no pulse, was not breathing, and had turned blue. With quick thinking, Phil cleared her airway, checked her pulse and got the carer to call 000. Then he commenced CPR. For 22 agonizing minutes, he performed CPR until the ambulance arrived. The paramedics took over and shocked her with the defibrillator to get her heart going again.
In a remarkable demonstration of bravery, Peter’s quick thinking and use of CPR skills saved his colleague Ian's life. It was just an average day at work, Peter was in a conversation with his colleague Ian, when the incident unfolded. Ian suddenly suffered a major cardiac arrest. Without a moment of hesitation, Peter jumped into action, immediately began administering CPR and promptly called 000. As the situation grew more critical, he didn’t hesitate to use a defibrillator, which proved vital just as the ambulance arrived. The St John CPR training they received together proved invaluable in this moment, with Ian now fully recovered.