It’s been 40 years since Martin Fisk OAM woke up and found himself between two St John Ambulance volunteers after passing out at a rock concert, but he says he never forgot the “kindness, compassion and professionalism” they showed him. 

After the incident, he carried on with his life, spending 11 years as the CEO of Menslink, and held senior leadership roles with Fearless Women, the ACT Human Rights Commission and Project Independence. 

In that time though, Martin says he found himself facing four more first aid incidents, including a staff member at work having a medical incident, being first on scene at two car accidents, and being on scene at a medical emergency in the bush that required helicopter rescue.

Martin says each experience further exemplified the critical role the St John Ambulance volunteers play in keeping the community safe, and so when one of the directors reached out to see if he knew of anyone who might be interested in the CEO role, he jumped at the chance and applied himself. 

Martin has big plans for his time as CEO, most notably, drawing on the ideas of Val Dempsey, 2022 Senior Australian of the Year and long time St John Ambulance volunteer, of encouraging all learner drivers to receive first-aid training.

Already, Martin says, learner drivers can do an online first aid course with St John Ambulance for free, with five hours getting taken off their logbook requirements upon completion.

Another key objective for Martin is to see every workplace, every car and every household in the ACT have a first aid kit, and someone confident enough to administer first aid nearby.

“And I want every business and every community centre to have a defibrillator, in case somebody has a heart attack, and for everyone to know where they are,” he says.

Martin says it is crucial that more Canberrans increase their first aid knowledge. 

“No matter how wonderful our ambulance service is, it may still take 10 to 15 minutes from the initial triple zero phone call to when they arrive on site,” he says.

“That is an absolutely critical time.

“As Val Dempsey described in her [Senior] Australian of the Year speech, there was a car accident where somebody simply needed their airway cleared and the people didn’t know what to do, just knowing that can save a life, knowing how to start CPR can save a life, knowing how to get a burns victim under cold water can save a life.

“Because at the end of the day, none of us know when we’re going to have an accident, or when somebody else is going to have an accident or a medical emergency, and to be able to immediately know what to do for those 10 minutes before an ambulance arrives is absolutely critical.”

Martin says it is also his goal to go and meet as many St John Ambulance volunteer responders as he can, and hopefully welcome some new volunteers. 

They are also working in collaboration with the government for the CBR Night Crew program.

“I like to call it first aid plus,” says Martin.

“Some of them need first aid, but some people might just need a phone charger because they can’t get home and they might be vulnerable.

“If you’ve got a choice between having a phone and telling your parents that you’re okay, or could they come and pick you up, or walking across Haig Park at 2 o’clock in the morning, you’re going to want a phone charger.”

Martin says he empathises with those who feel a lack of confidence in their ability to administer first aid, and he says the best thing is more regular training. 

“When I did my last first aid course, one of the most important things that the instructor told me was: ‘you only have to help somebody until the blue and red flashing lights turn up. You’re not responsible for saving this person’s life’,” says Martin.

“You just need to get them through until emergency services arrive, who are trained paramedics.”

Martin says another important service that St John Ambulance offers is restocking first aid kits, because unbeknownst to many, a lot of items in first aid kits expire.

Martin says these items don’t go to waste though, with St John Ambulance donating any close-to-expired items to local wildlife rescue organisations.  

“It’s just this amazing organisation contributing to the community in so many ways that people don’t necessarily realise,” says Martin.