MELBOURNE
A Goan-origin paramedic in Western Australia (WA) was awarded the Ambulance Service Medal (ASM) on Australia Day (January 26), in recognition of his distinguished service as a member of an Australian ambulance service.
Blaise Warren Rego said his first reaction after having found out that he had been nominated for the Australia Day Ambulance Service Medal was a feeling of pride and honour.
“I was mostly appreciative that someone within my organisation thought highly enough of me to do the research of my accomplishments over the past 20 years and take the time and effort to nominate me for this prestigious award,” acknowledged Rego.
“As a frontline employee in patient care we undertake our duties without seeking acknowledgement or thanks, so to be recognised for my contribution to the ambulance service and the legacy that I am able to leave for the next generation is very special.”
BACKGROUND
Rego was born in Rangoon-Burma and his family moved out to Australia when he was 4 years old.
“My parents are also Burmese but my heritage from my father’s side links back to Goa-India as both my paternal grandparents were born in Goa. I do not have a lot of history or memories from my grandparents as I was quite young when I left Burma and quite young when they passed away,” said Rego.
“My family immigrated to Australia in 1969. It was quite an uncertain time in Burma with military rule and political unrest. My mother and father decided to leave the country for better opportunities for the children. With 3 boys aged 6, 4 and 18 months, my parents managed to obtain a visa to Australia and sponsored out by the Catholic Church.”
“With just the clothes they were wearing and one suitcase each we had to leave under secrecy otherwise we would have been prosecuted by the military government. We landed in Australia to start a new life and with the charity and support of the Perth Diocese we were able to integrate into the Perth community.”
EXPERIENCE
Rego has a 20-year experience in emergency clinical and operational response at St John WA, a charitable, non-profit, humanitarian organisation for over 130 years which has been servicing and operating as an integral part of the WA community, teaching first aid and delivering the State's ambulance service while also shaping and leading the sector nationally.
He has held numerous operational roles during this time and has had a key role in the development and implementation of several key internal programs and initiatives, such as the Paramedic Mentor Program, Event Health Services Bike Squad and Mangar ELK Safety Lifting Device.
Rego has assisted in several significant collaborations between St John WA, Royal Perth Hospital Cardiology, Fiona Stanley Hospital and Joondalup Health Campus that resulted in paramedic professional development, VEM (Virtual Emergency Medicine) implementation and RACE (Rapid Access Clinic for Elderly) support.
His passion for improvement also saw him involved in the PARTY (Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth) program.
Rego was an integral part of the success of the 2021 Metropolitan Management team pilot in the South West District, as well as a key contributor and administrator for the organisation-wide Leadership Interest Group.
“These initiatives required detailed business planning, budget management and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to achieve organisational objectives These partnerships have led to improved patient care pathways and outcomes, as well as enhancing paramedic education and training,” said Rego.
Rego is a highly qualified and experienced people leader with a proven track record in fostering strong, effective relationships with employees and external stakeholders.
Adept at driving change and continuous improvement through a collaborative approach, Rego is known for a people-focused, honest approach that emphasises leadership resilience and integrity.
“I am dedicated to supporting a team environment which consistently demonstrates the values of St John WA. This all leads to a team dynamic where operational excellence and high performance are at the forefront of my daily interactions at every level,” he added.
CHALLENGES
Rego recalled that over the past 20 years there have been many and varied challenges associated with being a paramedic.
“If I was to single out just one incident that was the most challenging it would have to be losing a fellow employee in the line of duty. In 2023, Tinish Tamikodi became the first WA Paramedic to die while on duty. Even though I was not involved directly in attending this job, the loss of a well loved co-worker, supporting the grief of his peers and the reality of – we are all vulnerable while at work – was extremely difficult to navigate for a long time.
