Eight years ago, Jan Ogle saw an ad calling for new Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members in the local newspaper.
Ms Ogle says the timing couldn’t have been better.
“My daughters had grown up a bit, so I had a bit more time to give,” she said.
Now co-team Leader at Blackwood CERT, Ms Ogle loves giving back to the community.
“I come from a nursing and midwifery background, so it was important to me to go out and help people,” she said.
One of her favourite things about being a volunteer for Ambulance Victoria is the scope of interaction it brings.
“We work closely alongside a variety of paramedics – our local crews, the metro crews, Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) and air ambulance teams.”
“It’s always different – almost no two jobs are the same.”
CERTs are comprised of volunteer first responders, trained to provide advanced first aid, and are located in less populated and more remote areas of the state.
However, the work doesn’t stop there for Ms Ogle. She is also involved in the much-loved peer support dog program.
With her pet labrador, Pippa, the duo travel around Victoria, visiting ambulance branches and hospitals to educate and connect people with Ambulance Victoria’s wellbeing and support services.
The program aims to decrease stigma around seeking help and to reduce occupational stress.
“I love going out on the peer dog days and chatting to the paramedics, first responders, the staff and the graduate paramedics,” Ms Ogle said.
“Pip’s just the icebreaker – then you get to chat about how they’re going and make sure they know what wellbeing supports are available to them.”
Eddie Russell
