NSW Ambulance staff who go above and beyond in providing exceptional care to their communities are being celebrated on 15 September. More than 400 individuals were acknowledged for their life-saving efforts, including community members who lent a hand during medical emergencies.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park and Heathcote Member Maryanne Stuart honoured NSW Ambulance heroes. They stood alongside NSW Ambulance paramedics and community members during a public celebration held at Bulli Ambulance Station.

Minister Park emphasised the significance of celebrating the invaluable contributions made by NSW Ambulance paramedics, emergency nurses, and doctors throughout our state.

“Our incredible NSW Ambulance staff do more than respond to emergencies - they help, comfort and show compassion to us, in some of the most difficult times of our lives,” Mr Park said. 

Mr Park expressed thanks for the daily work of our NSW Ambulance staff and acknowledged those who’ve gone above and beyond for their patients. He said, “We’ve heard so many stories of unwavering commitment to duty, from performing life-saving medical interventions to acts of bravery, sometimes at risk to their own safety.”

In addition to the celebration at Bulli Ambulance Station, Ambulance Appreciation Day events are taking place at Artarmon, Rutherford, Coffs Harbour, Liverpool, Randwick, Dubbo, and Penrith ambulance stations.

Minister Park presented the prestigious Minister for Health Bursary Award for Excellence to Inspector Sally Groves from Paddington Ambulance Station, at the event at Bulli Ambulance Station, saying “I want to acknowledge Inspector Sally Groves’ professionalism, dedication to duty and support of her peers through mentoring and coaching.”

“Following the tragic death of paramedic Steven Tougher, Ms Groves was a tower of strength supporting her team, many of whom were trainee paramedics and Steven’s classmates. She is authentic, compassionate and her empathy across her more than 26 years of service, has helped colleagues and patients alike,” he added.

Dr Dominic Morgan, NSW Ambulance Chief Executive, also commended the exceptional commitment of the staff statewide. “The exceptional and varied skills of our hard-working staff does not go unnoticed,” he said.

Dr Morgan gave a heartfelt thank you to everyone from the paramedics, doctors, nurses and specialist crews on the road and in the air – to the call takers and dispatchers at Control Centres, corporate staff and selfless volunteers. “It’s great we can now come together to recognise these worthy award recipients after years of limited presentation opportunities due to the pandemic,” he said.

Other awards presented included the Commissioner’s Commendations for Courage and Service, Commissioner's Unit Citations for Courage and Service, Certificates of Appreciation, and service recognition clasps for staff with more than 30 years of service. 

Award recipients included the dozens of paramedics involved in a multiple person rescue after a boat capsized off Bulli Beach in October 2021. And also, the paramedics who rescued two people from a landslide that had already claimed the lives of two people in Wentworth Falls in April 2022, and the team of paramedics tasked to Jenolan Caves on Boxing Day 2019, facing isolation and heavy smoke to support firefighters battling the Green Wattle Creek fire. In fact, dozens of paramedics from across the state were honoured for their role in response to the bushfire emergency of 2019-2020. 

Member for Heathcote, Maryanne Stuart, expressed her pride in standing alongside Minister Park at Bulli to honour the dedicated NSW Ambulance staff. “This is a fantastic opportunity to publicly recognise and praise the work of our incredible NSW Ambulance staff for their commitment and achievements,” she said, adding, “As the Member for Heathcote, I am extremely thankful for the work paramedics throughout the Illawarra and Shire do for our community.”