The Graduating Class of 2008
The Minister for Health, John Della Bosca presented more than 60 paramedics
with their qualifications at a ceremony held at the Wesley Centre, Pitt Street
Sydney on Friday 12 December.
Mr Della Bosca said it was a privilege for him to be the first Heath Minister to officiate at the first combined graduation ceremony to celebrate the achievements of all those who completed paramedic training in 2008, with so many paramedics, family and friends in attendance.
The Graduating Class of 2008 included paramedics from many areas of Ambulance including, Qualified Paramedics, Extended Care Paramedics, Intensive Care Paramedics and SCAT course instructors.
Following the graduation, Her Excellency, Professor Marie Bashir, Governor of NSW presented medals for bravery and courage;
The Ambulance Service of NSW Distinguished Service Medal, the highest Ambulance award available, was presented to SCAT Paramedic Paul Kernick for his role in an Ambulance helicopter rescue mission at Pearce’s Lookout in Bilpin (outside of Windsor) when he placed his own life at risk by performing courageous acts to carry out his duty.
Five other intensive care paramedics, Paul Featherstone, Peter Cribbs, Peter Daniels, Michael Wilson and Lindsay Court were awarded a Unit Citation for Courage for performing their duty under hazardous circumstances when they collectively displayed courage of a high order beyond that of expectation when responding to an incident at Wombeyan Caves.
Her Excellency, Marie Bashir and Mr Della Bosca congratulated all staff on achieving their own personal goals and others on their displays of courage above the call to duty.
Ambulance is committed to assisting the community create safer and healthier environments and outcomes by making prevention everyone’s businesses. A number of innovative community education programs have been implemented to assist identify life threatening conditions, understand what to do in an emergency and the importance of adopting illness prevention strategies.