A Papua New Guinea developed ambulance training program has received regional recognition for helping build a skilled, sustainable and locally trained pre-hospital emergency care workshop.
The National St John Ambulance Service of PNG has received the Excellence in Staff Development Award at the Council of Ambulance Authorities’ (CAA) 2026 Awards for Excellence in recognition of the National Ambulance Education College (NAEC): Building PNG’s Pre-hospital Workforce initiative.
The program was judged alongside ambulance initiatives from Australia and New Zealand.
In a press statement by National St John, they noted that this is the second consecutive year that National St John Ambulance has been recognised at the CAA Awards for Excellence—a significant achievement for PNG and its growing ambulance service.
The award-winning National Ambulance Education College program is training Papua New Guineans, in PNG, to become qualified ambulance officers under nationally recognised standards aligned with international best practice.
Through the program, National St John Ambulance is:
●Training ambulance officers locally so they can serve where they are needed most, communicate in local languages and understand the communities in which they work.
●Building a PNG-based teaching faculty, reducing dependence on overseas volunteers and rotating trainers.
●Developing and delivering nationally relevant certificate courses that reflect the clinical, cultural and operational realities faced by ambulance officers in PNG.
●Establishing a structured career pathway for ambulance professionals. Currently, there is no progression from ambulance officer to Advanced Life Support (ALS) clinician without leaving the service to obtain a tertiary degree as a nurse or health extension officer. Aligned to their five-year strategy, the program will introduce the next Ambulance Officer Level.
The broader purpose of the program is to save lives. In many of the emergencies faced across Papua New Guinea, having a properly trained ambulance officer at the scene can mean the difference between life and death.
By investing in locally delivered education and long-term workforce development, National St John Ambulance is working towards a future in which every community in Papua New Guinea can access reliable, high-quality pre-hospital emergency care.
Council of Ambulance Authorities Chief Executive Officer Andrew Tombs congratulated National St John Ambulance on the achievement.
“Congratulations to the team at the National St John Ambulance Service of Papua New Guinea on securing their second Awards for Excellence recognition in two years,” Mr. Tombs said.
“Your dedication to strengthening the service, ensuring its long-term sustainability, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement is an outstanding achievement and one that deserves to be celebrated.”
National St John Ambulance proudly shares this recognition with its ambulance officers, educators, staff, volunteers, partners and supporters whose commitment is helping to strengthen emergency ambulance care throughout PNG.
The CAA Awards for Excellence recognise innovation, collaboration and outstanding achievement across the Australasian ambulance sector. They celebrate the diverse contributions helping to shape the future of ambulance care.