First Response Unit Ambulance Volunteer

Ko wai mātou - About us: 

Hato Hone St John has been serving New Zealanders since 1885. Today, we have nearly 12,000 kaimahi working across Aotearoa to enhance the health and wellbeing of our communities. From responding to 111 calls to supporting people to stay healthy through health education, access and monitoring, we make a life-changing difference every day. 

He aha te tūranga - About the role:  

Sign up in 2026, Start the training in 2027!

You are invited to attend our Information Evening at5:30 pm on Thursday 29 October 2026 at Matamata Ambulance station - 32 Rawhiti Avenue, Matamata 3400.

We are looking for a team of volunteers to operate our First Response Unit (FRU) ambulance to supplement our frontline crews inTe Aroha!

The First Response Unit will operate in time-critical emergency incidents (i.e. a cardiac arrest) when a full-time ambulance is not immediately available. The FRU volunteers will be notified of incidents via an automated messaging system and can choose whether or not they can respond, there is no roster or obligation. Volunteer crews will meet at the Station, take the FRU to the scene to and provide the critical patient care until further assistance arrives. 

What Hato Hone St John will provide:

• Continuous and regular NZQA recognised advanced first aid and clinical training
• Driving and radio training
• Pager/responder tools
• Ongoing support
• Membership of one of New Zealand's most trusted brands as well as benefits and discounts for St John services and products and at national and local retailers

Support you can expect after joining our team

We will give you all the support and education needed to make you safe and effective in the field. This includes:

• A two day Operations Induction course.
• A two day Operations Risk Management course which is designed to help you stay safe in the field.
• A two day Ambulance Driving course (where driving is part of your role) which is supported by online learning and the completion of a driving logbook.
• A four day First Responder course which is designed to enable you to assess patients and manage immediately life threatening emergencies in the community. This is supported by online learning and the completion of a First Responder Student workbook.

At the completion of the Operations Risk Management and First Responder courses you will be issued with a Level 3 New Zealand Certificate in Emergency Care (First Responder) and will hold the clinical practice level of First Responder (the foundation clinical level for ambulance in New Zealand).

Ko wai koe - About you:

Before you apply; you will need the following:

• A full and clean NZ driver's license for at least 12 months or have completed an approved NZTA advanced driving course (if full license held for less than 12 months) 
• To be 18 years of age or over 
• A New Zealand citizenship or permanent resident status 
• A Clean Police record 
• To be able pass the recruitment assessment including physical / written and interview assessments 
• Meet our medical standards
• To be living in the community (within 15-minute drive) to station to be able to respond

If successful, the training courses will be on the following dates in Cambridge:

• Induction: 18-19 February 2027 
• AORM: 20-21 February 2027
• Driving: 12-13 March or 14-15 March 2027 
• First Responder: 01-04 April 2027

Me pēhea te tuku tono - How to apply

Click “I’m interested” before applications close onSunday 8 November 2026.

For further information please contact Tanya Jeffery, Recruitment Advisor on 09 526 0528 ext: 8793 or tanya.jeffery@stjohn.org.nz for a confidential discussion.

Please note: all appointments are subject to satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks including, but not limited to, physical assessment, psychometric assessment, police vetting, health check, and reference checks. For clinical operations roles where you are required to drive, you will be required to meet Hato Hone St John Medical Standards for Driving

At Hato Hone St John, we embrace diversity, welcoming everyone to bring their authentic selves to work. We value unique perspectives, fostering inclusivity to better serve our communities, and we’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone belongs.

E pōhiritia nei e mātou, te whānau o Hato Hone St John, ngā rereketanga o ia tāngata ki te haramai. E āwhinatia e mātou i ngā whakaaro rereke, kia mahi pai i roto i ngā hāpori katoa. Ko ta mātou nei haepapa, kia hangaia tātahi āhuru mōwai mā tātou, kia mahi haumaru ai.

If you need accommodations for accessibility, please reach out to the recruiter listed for equitable participation in our recruitment process.

Research shows that women and people from under-represented groups are less likely to apply for roles when their experience doesn’t match the job description perfectly. If you’re excited and think you have what it takes, we want to hear from you! Even if your experience doesn’t align 100%. Please apply or contact the recruitment advisor listed on the advertisement for a kōrero.