Paul Featherstone
Quick thinking in crisis.
Profile
Paul Featherstone is a unique individual who has spent the over 40 years perfecting skills in the recovery and care of people in life threatening situations, placing his own life at risk on countless occasions in order to save the lives of others.
Previous experience
Joining the NSW Ambulance Service in 1972, Paul pioneered the Ambulance Service’s acclaimed Paramedic system in 1976. He conceived and developed the Special Casualty Access Team (S.C.A.T.) in 1986, and has since been a team leader in developing patient access methods and high levels of care under hostile environments.
Paul’s experience positions him as a specialist in situations where lives may be at stake. Situations where perfect planning, quick assessment and responses are critical for the prevention of injury. In situations where injuries have occurred, Paul is skilled and equipped to access, treat, recover and transport injured individuals whether by foot, road, air or sea.
Paul has developed unique training methods in high-risk areas based on “real world” experience, with strong emphasis on self-motivation and teamwork. This is where Paul now focuses a great deal of his time and energy as a SCAT instructor in order to pass on his vast knowledge and skills in the training of new team members.
Awards:
Twice the recipient of the Ambulance Service’s highest award for bravery, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Australian Bravery Medal, the Humane Society’s Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals, Prince Phillip Helicopter Rescue Award and the Ambulance Service Medal as part of the 2007 Queen’s Birthday Honour List.
Paul has also been honoured as 2007 Sutherland Shire Citizen of the Year and has been an Australia Day Ambassador in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Major Emergency Events
In addition to regular Paramedic duties, Paul has played a role in aiding multiple victims from the following major emergencies.
– Savoy Hotel Fire 1975.
– Granville Rail Crash 1977.
– Lewisham Hospital Fire 1980.
– Royal National Park Bush Fires 1986.
– Nyngan Flood 1990.
– Forbes Flood 1990.
– Thredbo Disaster 1997.
– Wingella Fires 1998.
– Special Response Operations for the Olympic Games.(Aquatic, Helicopter, C.B.R. Crowds, V.I.P. &
Terrorist). 2000
– Black Xmas Fires, remote teams.2002
– Bali Bombing 2002
– December fires 2002
– Waterfall Rail Disaster 2003
– Beaconsfield Mine Rescue 2006
– Industrial accidents / protracted entrapments 2009
Feedback
Paul captivated the audience with his ease of presentation. He spoke with great passion, drawing many stories from his wide breadth of experience as an outstanding ambulance paramedic, expert in his field, selfless hero and unique and humble individual.
Throughout the presentation, he made constant reference to the overall theme of our Conference, drawing threads from many angles. His presentation was enhanced through the use of inspirational audiovisual clips of his many rescues as team leader of S.C.A.T.
Paul's engaging presentation at the Conference has led to an invitation from the Regional Director, John Couani, inviting Paul to speak at the Catholic Education Young Leaders day to be held later in the year.
Paul's presentation was a highlight of our inagural Eastern Region Conference
The presentation was highly regarded and rates as one of the best we have arranged for staff. A reasonable percentage of our group knew of Paul by name, or particularly through the Stuart Diver connection, and expressed to me that they had imagined his presentation was going to be focused around those personal experiences in high-profile situations. This was not the case and further enhanced the admiration for Paul's constant reference to the mentors and team members he worked with on a daily basis. He was regarded as very genuine and a model of all things good about Aussie 'heroes'.
Staff related very well to the stories told by Paul and felt that he had a real interest in the people he helped or came across in his duties. They fitted very well with the culture of our company so I was personally delighted at the compound benefit of the message. The lifetime experiences he discussed around focus, commitment, training and follow-through were not lost on our predominantly female audience who have families at home facing the challenges of our society today.
I would be delighted to act as a reference to other business leaders considering Paul for a function. Please pass on my thanks to Paul again for his time and effort.
