St John Albany paramedic Shelley Johnstone to receive international honour at Women in Ambulance Awards

Albany paramedic Shelley Johnstone will receive an international honour for her service and leadership.

On Tuesday — International Women’s Day — the Council of Ambulance Authorities will host its annual Women in Ambulance Awards night.

The awards recognise hardworking women in ambulance services across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

Ms Johnstone, a paramedic of 14 years who recently moved to Albany, will be among 60 women to receive an award.

One of only six recipients from St John WA, she said the honour “hasn’t sunk in yet”.

“There are so many women in ambulance that would be eligible and have done a lot of different roles,” Ms Johnstone said.

“I feel very privileged to have been nominated in the first place, and then to be a recipient its pretty exciting.”

The Women in Ambulance Awards ceremony will be held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Ms Johnstone will be recognised for her role as a trainer and mentor, as well as her longstanding commitment to St John WA’s region operations.

“Just because you stop and have kids doesn’t mean you have to put your career on hold completely, and you can balance everything in life,” Ms Johnstone said.

“It’s good to empower women and be a good role model for my daughter.”

Before relocated to Albany three months ago, Ms Johnstone and her husband — also a paramedic — worked in Lake Grace.

“I’m absolutely loving Albany and the job,” she said.

“The paramedics and the volunteers have made us feel so welcome. We feel like we’ve been here for ages already.”