Mental Health Services for Volunteer Responders

In reply to Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (17 June 2022). (Estimates Committee B)

The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Wellbeing): I have been advised:

SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) has a well-established peer support program that provides confidential support to SAAS volunteers using a team of trained peer support officers (PSO). PSOs are SAAS staff who have undertaken special training to help their colleagues cope with personal or work-related difficulties. They do this voluntarily in addition to their normal roles within SAAS. In addition to peer support they can also help connect to a team of mental health professionals (MHP) who are part of our Employee Assistance Program.

The peer support program is one element of the SAAS Employee Assistance Program. The purpose of the program is to promote the physical, psychological, and emotional wellbeing of SAAS staff and their families in a confidential environment.

There are a nine volunteer staff trained as PSOs.

All SAAS volunteers complete stress management as part of their accredited training course.