General News
14 March, 2023
Dedication and commitment recognised
SIMPSON Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) has been recognised for its dedication to service with an Ambulance Victoria Excellence Award.
SIMPSON Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) has been recognised for its dedication to service with an Ambulance Victoria Excellence Award.
Comprised of six members, the team was formed in October 2020 and has responded to more than 200 callouts.
The team consists of Bree Jones, Carol Dehn, Cheryl Parsell, Paul Parsell, Russell White and Josh Ovens, and received a nod in the First Responders and Volunteers category.
Ambulance Victoria’s annual Excellence Awards are given to those who have delivered outstanding results or made significant improvements to the organisation.
CERTs are members of the local community who work on an on-call basis to provide initial first aid until an ambulance arrives.
Simpson CERT’s Paul Parsell said the team provided fast and effective emergency care to the Simpson area and surrounding district.
“We help with everything from motor vehicle accidents to cardiac arrests and treat every age group from babies up to our senior citizens,” he said.
AV’s Barwon south west regional director Terry Marshall said the Simpson CERT had made a real difference to the community’s health needs.
“In rural and regional areas like Simpson, our first responders play a huge part in assisting people in their time of need,” he said.
“CERTs are located in less populated and more remote areas of the state and support AV to respond to Triple Zero (000) emergencies in rural and remote Victoria.
“They are dispatched at the same time as an ambulance to a Triple Zero (000) call and work alongside paramedics to deliver exceptional patient care.
“This award recognises the Simpson team who goes above and beyond in serving local communities with impactful and significant results, and in doing so, contributes to improving AV’s delivery of services.”
Mr Parsell said he was proud of his colleagues’ efforts.
“Becoming a CERT is a highly rewarding experience, with the team being made up of like-minded individuals who volunteer their time,” he said.
“Many of us were - or still are - locals in the region, so we know how important it is to get that early medical care. We get a lot of satisfaction being there for people.”
For further details on becoming a First Responder with Ambulance Victoria, visit: www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/community/volunteers/