St John Ambulance Australia ranks and insignia

St John Ambulance Australia employs the use of ranks, as an organisation with its roots in the military. Its rank structure is based upon that of St John Ambulance in the United Kingdom, while also taking inspiration from the Australian Army.

St John Ambulance UK as of 2024 are no longer wearing rank markings whilst on operational duties in green duty uniform (events or ambulance duties). Only clinical role or command role shown as words only e.g “Bronze Commander”, Advanced first aid”, “paramedic” etc. rank markings only worn on black and white ceremonial uniforms.

St John Ambulance South Australia no longer wears rank markings on green operational uniforms. Eppulettes show either clinical role or operational role in wording only.

Rank tables

Ranks and Insignia of St John Ambulance Australia (Colours apply to all ranks shown below)[1][2]
Colour Red Stripe Grey Stripe Green Stripe Yellow Stripe Red Piping
Insignia
(rank
slide)
Meaning Registered Nurses or Nurse Practitioners
with or without further
rank insignia, as below.		 Regional Officers
with or without further
rank insignia, as below.		 Enrolled Nurses
with or without further
rank insignia, as below.		 Paramedics
with or without further
rank insignia, as below.		 Medical practitioners
with or without further
rank insignia, as below.
Ranks and Insignia of St John Ambulance Australia Cadets
Rank Cadet Cadet Corporal Senior Cadet Senior Cadet Corporal Senior Cadet Sergeant
Insignia
Notes Members aged between 11 and 14 years of age and in possession of a Basic First Aid Certificate. As for cadet, but with leadership responsibilities. Members aged between 15 and 18 and in possession of a Provide First Aid Certificate. As for Senior Cadets, but with leadership responsibilities. As for Senior Cadets, but with more leadership responsibilities than Senior Cadet Corporals

Formal Uniform

Doctors, Paramedics, Registered and Enrolled Nurses have special markings on the epaulette to indicate their Health Care Professional status.

NB: Enrolled Nurse level is not recognised with St John Ambulance South Australia credentialing systems.

National Commissioned Officers (obsolete roles no longer in use, except for “Chief Cadet Officer”
National Officer Grade 1 National Officer Grade 2 National Officer Grade 3 Officer Grade 1
Chief Commissioner Chief Superintendent
Deputy Chief Superintendent
Chief Professional Officer 		Chief Officer Cadets
Chief Medical Officer
Chief Nursing Officer
Chief Ambulance Officer 		National Staff Officer
Commissioned Officers
Commissioner Officer Grade 1 Officer Grade 2 Officer Grade 3 Officer Grade 4 Officer Grade 5 Officer Grade 6
State/Territory Commissioner State/Territory Deputy Commissioner
State/Territory Assistant Commissioner
State/Territory Superintendent
State/Territory Professional Officer 		State/Territory Officer Regional Superintendent
Regional Medical Officer
State/Territory Officer 		Divisional Superintendent
Divisional Nursing/Medical Officer
State/Territory Officer
Regional Officer
Area Manager 		Divisional Officer
Divisional Nurse
Regional Medical Officer
Regional Officer 		Divisional Officer
Probationary Officer
Commissioned Officers - Doctor
Commissioner Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6
Commissioned Officers - Paramedic
Commissioner Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6
Commissioned Officers - Registered Nurse/Nurse Practitioner
Commissioner Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6
Commissioned Officers - Enrolled Nurse
Commissioner Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6


Non Commissioned Officers Other Ranks
Sergeant Corporal Cadet Leader Private
Member with advanced leadership responsibilities and skills Member with leadership responsibilities An adult member between 18 and 25 that has
undertaken a specific leadership course and is
ranked above cadets and privates but below all other adult ranks.[3] 		Standard rank slide for members without rank (Private)
Non Commissioned Officers - Doctor Other Ranks - Doctor
Non Commissioned Officers - Paramedic Other Ranks - Paramedic
Non Commissioned Officers - Registered Nurse/Nurse Practitioner Other Ranks - Registered Nurse/Nurse Practitioner
Non Commissioned Officers - Enrolled Nurse Other Ranks - Enrolled Nurse

Other Insignia[4]

These insignia are worn on the uniform to distinguish an individual's level in the organisation. Gorget patches are worn on the collar of the shirt or lapel of the jacket of State and National Officers. Grade I Officers and above may wear a peak cap with different braiding on the peak for National Officers and Chief Officers.

Hat Badges
Cadet Adult Grade I and Above


Gorget Patches
State Staff Officer State Superintendent State Commissioner National Staff Officer

Cap Peaks
National Officer Chief Officer

Events Uniform (New South Wales)

Clinical Epaulettes are worn for members involved in events or activities requiring the Events Uniform.[5] The below Clinical Epaulettes are only in use within St. John Ambulance Australia (New South Wales)

Officer Grade 0
Responder
(FA) 		First Responder
(FR) 		Advanced Responder
(AR) 		Enrolled Nurse
(EN) 		Registered Nurse
(RN) 		Paramedic
(P) 		Doctor
(MO)


Officer Grade 1
Responder
(FA) 		First Responder
(FR) 		Advanced Responder
(AR) 		Enrolled Nurse
(EN) 		Registered Nurse
(RN) 		Paramedic
(P) 		Doctor
(MO)


Officer Grade 2
Responder
(FA) 		First Responder
(FR) 		Advanced Responder
(AR) 		Enrolled Nurse
(EN) 		Registered Nurse
(RN) 		Paramedic
(P) 		Doctor
(MO)


Officer Grade 3
Responder
(FA) 		First Responder
(FR) 		Advanced Responder
(AR) 		Enrolled Nurse
(EN) 		Registered Nurse
(RN) 		Paramedic
(P) 		Doctor
(MO)


Officer Grade 4
Responder
(FA) 		First Responder
(FR) 		Advanced Responder
(AR) 		Enrolled Nurse
(EN) 		Registered Nurse
(RN) 		Paramedic
(P) 		Doctor
(MO)


Officer Grade 5
Responder
(FA) 		First Responder
(FR) 		Advanced Responder
(AR) 		Enrolled Nurse
(EN) 		Registered Nurse
(RN) 		Paramedic
(P) 		Doctor
(MO)


Officer Grade 6
Responder
(FA) 		First Responder
(FR) 		Advanced Responder
(AR) 		Enrolled Nurse
(EN) 		Registered Nurse
(RN) 		Paramedic
(P) 		Doctor
(MO)


Sergeant
Responder
(FA) 		First Responder
(FR) 		Advanced Responder
(AR) 		Enrolled Nurse
(EN) 		Registered Nurse
(RN) 		Paramedic
(P) 		Doctor
(MO)


Corporal
Responder
(FA) 		First Responder
(FR) 		Advanced Responder
(AR) 		Enrolled Nurse
(EN) 		Registered Nurse
(RN) 		Paramedic
(P) 		Doctor
(MO)


Cadet Leader
Responder
(FA) 		First Responder
(FR) 		Advanced Responder
(AR) 		Enrolled Nurse
(EN) 		Registered Nurse
(RN) 		Paramedic
(P) 		Doctor
(MO)


Member
Responder
(FA) 		First Responder
(FR) 		Advanced Responder
(AR) 		Enrolled Nurse
(EN) 		Registered Nurse
(RN) 		Nurse Practitioner (NP) Paramedic
(P) 		Doctor
(MO)

References

  1. ^ St John Ambulance Australia. Uniform Handbook – Operations Branch. August 2006, pp. 15-17.
  2. ^ St John Ambulance Australia. Event and Emergency First Aid Service Standards. January 2008, pp. 19, 23–28, 30–31.
  3. ^ "Cadet Leaders 18 to 25". St John Cadets. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  4. ^ St John Ambulance Australia. "Operations Branch Uniform Guidelines" (PDF). Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  5. ^ Bendall, Jason (June 2018). Event Health Services – Epaulettes. St John Ambulance Australia (NSW). pp. 3–5.

See also