Code of Conduct

The purpose of the GoodSAM App is to enable immediate life-saving assistance prior to the statutory ambulance service arriving. It is imperative that responders providing Good Samaritan acts do not delay transfer to definitive care. As such, the following code of conduct containing basic rules has been established:

A responder must ensure that their knowledge and skills are current. If formal certification is out of date then acting as a responder must NOT occur.

A responder must arrive by foot. Only in especially remote locations should driving to a location be considered and the rules of the road apply fully. Since not officially dispatched, speeding or blue light driving is not allowed.

A responder should only respond if fully alert and prepared (do not respond if e.g. alcohol has been consumed)

A responder MUST NOT go outside of his / her skill set. BASIC LIFE SUPPORT and AED use are all that should be provided when appropriate.

Upon arrival of the statutory emergency services care MUST be handed over immediately.

The respondent must ensure that their knowledge and skills are current and that they have undertaken a formal certified course in immediate life support/first aid and that such certification remains valid. If such certification lapses then a respondent should deregister from the service until it has been renewed.

A responder should not respond to any location where they may be at risk (for example, a railway line, hazardous water or an unsafe urban / rural area).

Responders must not take photographs or use any recording (audio or video) equipment during a response. They must be completely mindful of patient confidentiality and not disclose details of any incident to others. Specifically, no aspects of a response should be reported in social media without authorisation of the relevant ambulance service.

By agreeing to be a GoodSAM responder I acknowledge that I understand and agree to all of the following terms and conditions:

1. I respond at my own risk. Neither GoodSAM nor the ambulance service is responsible for any loss, damage or injury suffered by me when responding to, or attending an emergency.

2. It is my choice whether or not I respond to an emergency. I will not respond if it is unsafe for me to do so and I will not respond if I am impaired, for example by illness or alcohol consumption.

3. I understand that I should not have my phone on mute when responding, so that I can receive additional alerts from the ambulance service if required.

4. I understand that if additional information becomes available, for example the scene may be unsafe or the incident is no-longer a cardiac arrest, that I will receive an additional alert of "assistance is no longer required" and I will stop responding.

5. I understand that if the address changes I will receive an additional alert of assistance is "no-longer required" and then a separate alert notifying me of the correct address.

6. I will preferably go to the scene by foot. If I choose to drive to the scene I will drive at normal speed and will obey all driving rules and laws.

7. I will assess the scene for safety before entering and will only enter if I believe it is safe to do so. It is possible the emergency may be at a private address and in this situation, I will use additional judgement before approaching the scene.

8. I must identify myself to those present and offer to provide help, including asking for permission from the people present before entering a private residence whenever possible.

9. I am responsible for ensuring that my knowledge and skills are current, and I will only provide treatments that are within my usual skill set.

10. Although cardiac arrest is suspected, it is possible the emergency is not a cardiac arrest and I am prepared to provide first aid assistance for other emergencies.

11. I will immediately hand over the responsibility of providing treatment to emergency service personnel when they arrive and I may assist emergency service personnel if asked to do so.

12. I understand that if I require personal support following responding to an incident I should utilize my usual support processes, but if I require additional support I may email Goodsam@stjohn.org.nz and a person will contact me.

By agreeing to be a GoodSAM responder I acknowledge that I understand and agree to all of the following terms and conditions:

1. I respond at my own risk. Neither GoodSAM nor the ambulance service is responsible for any loss, damage or injury suffered by me when responding to, or attending an emergency.

2. It is my choice whether or not I respond to an emergency. I will not respond if it is unsafe for me to do so and I will not respond if I am impaired, for example by illness or alcohol consumption.

3. I understand that I should not have my phone on mute when responding, so that I can receive additional alerts from the ambulance service if required.

4. I understand that if additional information becomes available, for example the scene may be unsafe or the incident is no-longer a cardiac arrest, that I will receive an additional alert of "assistance is no longer required" and I will stop responding.

5. I understand that if the address changes I will receive an additional alert of assistance is "no-longer required" and then a separate alert notifying me of the correct address.

6. I will preferably go to the scene by foot. If I choose to drive to the scene I will drive at normal speed and will obey all driving rules and laws.

7. I will assess the scene for safety before entering and will only enter if I believe it is safe to do so. It is possible the emergency may be at a private address and in this situation, I will use additional judgement before approaching the scene.

8. I must identify myself to those present and offer to provide help, including asking for permission from the people present before entering a private residence whenever possible.

9. I am responsible for ensuring that my knowledge and skills are current, and I will only provide treatments that are within my usual skill set.

10. Although cardiac arrest is suspected, it is possible the emergency is not a cardiac arrest and I am prepared to provide first aid assistance for other emergencies.

11. I will immediately hand over the responsibility of providing treatment to emergency service personnel when they arrive and I may assist emergency service personnel if asked to do so.

12. I understand that if I require personal support following responding to an incident I should utilize my usual support processes, but if I require additional support I may email Goodsam@stjohn.org.nz and a person will contact me.

By agreeing to be a GoodSAM responder I acknowledge that I understand and agree to all of the following terms and conditions:

1. I respond at my own risk. Neither GoodSAM nor the ambulance service is responsible for any loss, damage or injury suffered by me when responding to, or attending an emergency.

2. It is my choice whether or not I respond to an emergency. I will not respond if it is unsafe for me to do so and I will not respond if I am impaired, for example by illness or alcohol consumption.

3. I understand that I should not have my phone on mute when responding, so that I can receive additional alerts from the ambulance service if required.

4. I understand that if additional information becomes available, for example the scene may be unsafe or the incident is no-longer a cardiac arrest, that I will receive an additional alert of "assistance is no longer required" and I will stop responding.

5. I understand that if the address changes I will receive an additional alert of assistance is "no-longer required" and then a separate alert notifying me of the correct address.

6. I will preferably go to the scene by foot. If I choose to drive to the scene I will drive at normal speed and will obey all driving rules and laws.

7. I will assess the scene for safety before entering and will only enter if I believe it is safe to do so. It is possible the emergency may be at a private address and in this situation, I will use additional judgement before approaching the scene.

8. I must identify myself to those present and offer to provide help, including asking for permission from the people present before entering a private residence whenever possible.

9. I am responsible for ensuring that my knowledge and skills are current, and I will only provide treatments that are within my usual skill set.

10. Although cardiac arrest is suspected, it is possible the emergency is not a cardiac arrest and I am prepared to provide first aid assistance for other emergencies.

11. I will immediately hand over the responsibility of providing treatment to emergency service personnel when they arrive and I may assist emergency service personnel if asked to do so.

12. I understand that if I require personal support following responding to an incident I should utilize my usual support processes, but if I require additional support I may email Goodsam@stjohn.org.nz and a person will contact me.

Purpose

The purpose of the GoodSAM Responder application (app) is to enable immediate life-saving assistance to be provided to someone in cardiac arrest before the state ambulance service or other emergency services arriving.

It is important that GoodSAM Responders (Responders) providing first aid as good samaritans do not delay access to or interfere with the provision of definitive care.


GoodSAM Responder rules

The following ten rules apply to those who participate in the GoodSAM program. Failure to adhere to the below rules may result in removal from the program. Therefore, please read them carefully:

1. Responders must know how to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use an automated external defibrillator (AED). Responders are responsible for the maintenance of their CPR knowledge and skills. First-aid qualifications are encouraged but not required. Responders should be guided by the Triple Zero (000) call takers in relation to patient care, where required.
2. Responders are responsible for their own health and safety. When Responders are alerted via the GoodSAM app, they can choose to accept or reject the alert. When accepting an alert, Responders should not enter a location if they believe it may be unsafe to themselves or others. If a serious safety risk is identified, Responders should find a safe location and phone Triple Zero (000) for assistance.
3. Responders should arrive by foot, where possible. Responders may consider driving to an event if distance prevents arrival by foot. In this instance, normal road rules apply. The use of hazard or warning lights and sounds are not allowed while responding. There are no exemptions from the Australian Road Rules, the relevant road traffic legislation or any other applicable laws as a result of being alerted via the GoodSAM app.
4. Responders should only respond if they are in a fit state and prepared. If the Responder's ability to provide care could be impacted by the influence of alcohol, fatigue, prescription medication or other drugs and substances, they should not respond. Responders must carry or have access to readily available personal protective equipment (PPE) that are necessary, like gloves, face mask and eye protection.
5. Responders who are not registered health professionals MUST NOT provide care beyond first-aid (if suitably trained to do so), basic life support and AED use. Further considerations for health professionals registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) are outlined below.
6. Upon arrival of an emergency paramedic or medical service, Responders must hand over responsibility for patient care immediately. If asked to do so, Responders may continue to assist with ongoing resuscitation efforts under the leadership and guidance of paramedic or medical personnel. Responders are encouraged to leave the scene as soon as possible to reduce any risk of exposure to toxins or contagion.
7. Responders are responsible for ensuring that their ability to provide care is not impaired by any medical, physical or mental health conditions. Responders should seek advice from an appropriate health care professional regarding their suitability to participate in the GoodSAM program - this includes maintaining complete and up-to-date vaccinations. Neither the state ambulance service nor the GoodSAM program shall be responsible for any illness or injury caused to Responders by participating in the program.
8. Participation in the GoodSAM program is voluntary. Payments, gifts, benefits, or hospitality should not be sought or accepted in relation to involvement in the program.
9. Patient privacy and confidentiality is of paramount importance. Other than to emergency services, Responders must not share or disclose information gained from participating in the program unless legally required to do so. Information about a patient or any part of a response must not be disclosed in the media (including social media). A breach of this rule will result in the Responder being removed from the GoodSAM program and there may be legal consequences.

Responders must abide by the privacy legislation of the state or territory that they are responding in, for example:
Victoria - Health Privacy Principles contained within the Health Records Act 2001 or the Information Privacy Principles contained in the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic)
South Australia - Information Privacy Principles Instruction (PC012) and/or section 93 of the Health Care Act 2008 (SA)

10. Responders act as good samaritans and are not representatives of any state ambulance service or any other organisation. Responders are responsible for their own actions. If the Responder alerted has utilised an AED as part of a response, they are required to return the AED to the place from which it was collected (unless the state ambulance service staff explicitly request to keep it). Responders are liable for any damage they cause to third-party property. Neither the state ambulance service nor GoodSAM are responsible for any damage or theft of property belonging to Responders during a response.


Ahpra registered health professionals

Responders registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) are not restricted by Rule 5. However, these Responders should exercise professional judgement in providing patient care and they should also consider their applicable registration standards, requirements of professional conduct, including related codes and guidelines https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registration-Standards.aspx

Please note that their failure to follow these Code of Conduct rules may result in removal from the program, referral to a registering body or other action as deemed appropriate by the relevant ambulance service.


Ambulance service employees and volunteers (staff)

Ambulance service staff should note that normal workplace policies and procedures apply in relation to their involvement or activities with the GoodSAM program, including when responding to alerts. Where there is inconsistency between a workplace policy, procedure or guideline and this GoodSAM Code of Conduct, the relevant workplace policy, procedure or guideline generally takes precedence.


Responder's privacy

Information that Responders provide to GoodSAM, including personal information provided to the relevant state or territory ambulance service will be stored and accessed in accordance with the relevant ambulance privacy policy available at:

Victoria - https://www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/privacy-policy/
South Australia - https://saambulance.sa.gov.au/privacy-policy/

The relevant state ambulance service may contact Responders in relation to their involvement in the program, including any responses that they participate in.

The relevant state ambulance service may provide information about Responders and their involvement in the program to the organisation they are affiliated with in the GoodSAM database (if applicable). If Responders are no longer affiliated with a verifying organisation, they must either:
- Update their GoodSAM profile with their new affiliating organisation; or
- contact the relevant state ambulance service on the details provided below.


General
Each state ambulance service reserves the right to exclude individuals from the GoodSAM program where, at that ambulance service's sole discretion, they believe the individual has breached this GoodSAM Code of Conduct, or it is believed that the individual's involvement with the program is not appropriate.

This GoodSAM Code of Conduct may be amended by the relevant state ambulance service and GoodSAM as required. The amended GoodSAM Code of Conduct will be published on the GoodSAM website, the relevant state ambulance service website and made available via the GoodSAM application.

If applicants do not agree to abide by the GoodSAM Code of Conduct, you must not act as a Responder and must cease use of the GoodSAM app. Use of the GoodSAM app is deemed to be an acceptance of the GoodSAM Code of Conduct as amended from time to time.


Contact
Enquires related to the GoodSAM Program can be directed to:

Victoria:
Lead, Community and Co-Responder Programs
Ambulance Victoria
PO Box 2000, Doncaster VIC 3108
T +61 3 9840 3500
E GoodSAM@ambulance.vic.gov.au

South Australia:
GoodSAM Project Officer
SA Ambulance Service
GPO BOX 3, Adelaide SA 5001
T + 61 08 8274 0600 (interstate or international callers)
T 1300 13 62 72 (SA only callers)
E health.SAASGoodSAM@sa.gov.au

GoodSAM responders are members of the public, willing to provide voluntary immediate life-saving assistance, prior to NSW Ambulance or other emergency services arriving.

Responders are volunteers, who choose to provide aid when notified of a person in need by NSW Ambulance. Their efforts are in addition to the usual priority ambulance response. Responders can ignore or decline an alert at any time, and for any or no reason, including after accepting the alert.

These 10 principles protect responders and patients. They are our Code of Practice, and all New South Wales GoodSAM responders agree to follow them.

1) Your safety is the first priority, and you should act sensibly to maintain your own health and safety. If you choose to accept an alert, do not take any action or enter a situation where your, or another person's safety is at risk. Phone Triple-Zero (000) and wait for assistance if required. You should try to ensure appropriate clothing and footwear for the scene.
2) If more information becomes available, and NSW Ambulance determines that a volunteer response is not appropriate, you will receive a cancellation message via the app. If you receive a cancellation message, you should stop responding straight away. You may then receive a second alert if the address of the emergency has changed, you can accept and respond to the new alert.
3) You should only accept an alert if you are fully alert. Do not respond if you have consumed alcohol, drugs, or any medications that impair alertness.
4) You should ensure that your ability to act as a responder is not impaired by any medical, physical or mental health conditions. It is recommended that you discuss any concerns (including vaccination status) with your relevant health care professional prior to registering as a responder. NSW Ambulance and GoodSAM are not responsible for any illness or injury related to your involvement in the program.
5) You should travel to scene by foot. Only In rural locations should driving be considered, and if driving you should obey all normal road rules. Specifically, hazard or warning devices are not allowed while responding; and there are no exemptions to the NSW road rules or other applicable legislation as a result of responding to a GoodSAM alert.
6) You are responsible for understanding your own training, knowledge and skills; and should not provide care beyond the scope of your first-aid training. In most cases, basic life support and use of an Automated External Defibrillator will be all that is required. Please see below for advice to Ahpra registered Healthcare Professionals.
7) Responsibility for patient care passes to NSW Ambulance paramedics or other Emergency Services as soon as they arrive. You may offer to continue to assist if required under the leadership and supervision of paramedics.
8) Participation in the GoodSAM program is voluntary. You must not seek payment, gifts, benefits or hospitality in relation to your involvement in the program. This is an important part of your protection under the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW).
9) You must always preserve the privacy and confidentiality of the patients you help. You mustn't disclose information about a patient to other people, the media, or on social media. Ambulance control-room staff may request live access to your phone's camera to assist your resuscitation; but otherwise recording video, audio or photos on your own device is not allowed. This is consistent with the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW); and if you breach this rule, you will be automatically removed from the GoodSAM programme.
10) Responders are members of the public and are not representatives of NSW Ambulance. You are responsible for your own actions; and NSW Ambulance and GoodSAM are not responsible for any theft, loss or damage of property sustained in the course of a response. If you have borrowed a Public Access Defibrillator as part of a response, you should return it afterwards.

Adhering to our code of conduct is important to protect the public and our patients, and we reserve the right to exclude individuals from the GoodSAM programme if we believe that the Code of Conduct has not been followed; or if we believe that their ongoing involvement with the programme is not appropriate. Your use of the GoodSAM app in New South Wales is considered to be an acceptance of this Code of Conduct.

Guidance for Ahpra registered professionals, including paramedics

Ahpra registered health professionals are responding as volunteers and are only expected to provide chest compressions and use an AED. However, should they choose to provide care beyond this level they should exercise their professional judgment with specific consideration of the following:

- Their level of training, familiarity and competence in any procedure, assessment or skill
- The access, availability, familiarity, maintenance, capability or absence of appropriate; equipment, trained personnel, medications and support necessary to safely provide any procedure, assessment or skill
- The possession of adequate professional indemnity or other insurance in relation to the practice of any procedure, assessment or skill within the environment they are in.
- The relative benefits and risks to the patient in comparison to awaiting the routine provision of care by emergency services.

Ahpra registered health professionals should note that the requirements of professional conduct, including related codes and guidelines, apply and that breaches or concerns may be raised by NSW Ambulance or a concerned party.

Guidance for NSW Ambulance employees

Volunteer responders who are also NSW Ambulance employees should follow all normal NSW Ambulance policies and work-practices. If you are alerted while on duty, you should decline the alert, and await tasking by the Control Centre as there may be a closer NSWA resource.

You may provide interventions within your scope of practice if your skill level exceeds that of the attending paramedics. Where a paramedic of equivalent skill attends, clinical primacy sits with the tasked paramedic. You should ensure that you use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when it becomes available.

Your privacy

Information you provide to GoodSAM, including personal information provided to NSW Ambulance will be stored and accessed in accordance with our privacy policy available at:

https://www.ambulance.nsw.gov.au/about-us/access-to-information/privacy

NSW Ambulance may contact you in relation to your involvement in the program, including any responses you participate in.

NSW Ambulance may provide information relating to you and your involvement in the program to the organisation you are affiliated with in the GoodSAM database. If you are no longer affiliated with this organisation, it is your responsibility to inform us by either:

- Updating your GoodSAM profile with a new affiliating organisation (or by choosing 'GoodSAM' if no other affiliating organisation is listed)
- Contacting us using the details provided below.

Contacting us

Enquiries relating to GoodSAM and New South Wales Ambulance can be directed to:
Email: Ambulance-GoodSAM@health.nsw.gov.au

By agreeing to be a GoodSAM responder I acknowledge that I understand and agree to all of the following terms and conditions:

1. I respond at my own risk. Neither GoodSAM nor the ambulance service is responsible for any loss, damage or injury suffered by me when responding to, or attending an emergency.

2. It is my choice whether or not I respond to an emergency. I will not respond if it is unsafe for me to do so and I will not respond if I am impaired, for example by illness or alcohol consumption.

3. I understand that I should not have my phone on mute when responding, so that I can receive additional alerts from the ambulance service if required.

4. I understand that if additional information becomes available, for example the scene may be unsafe or the incident is no-longer a cardiac arrest, that I will receive an additional alert of "assistance is no longer required" and I will stop responding.

5. I understand that if the address changes I will receive an additional alert of assistance is "no-longer required" and then a separate alert notifying me of the correct address.

6. I will preferably go to the scene by foot. If I choose to drive to the scene I will drive at normal speed and will obey all driving rules and laws.

7. I will assess the scene for safety before entering and will only enter if I believe it is safe to do so. It is possible the emergency may be at a private address and in this situation, I will use additional judgement before approaching the scene.

8. I must identify myself to those present and offer to provide help, including asking for permission from the people present before entering a private residence whenever possible.

9. I am responsible for ensuring that my knowledge and skills are current, and I will only provide treatments that are within my usual skill set.

10. Although cardiac arrest is suspected, it is possible the emergency is not a cardiac arrest and I am prepared to provide first aid assistance for other emergencies.

11. I will immediately hand over the responsibility of providing treatment to emergency service personnel when they arrive and I may assist emergency service personnel if asked to do so.

12. I understand that if I require personal support following responding to an incident I should utilize my usual support processes, but if I require additional support I may email Goodsam@stjohn.org.nz and a person will contact me.

By agreeing to be a GoodSAM responder I acknowledge that I understand and agree to all of the following terms and conditions:

1. When responding to an emergency, I will follow all St John instructions and take reasonable care to ensure my actions do not create risks for myself or other people.
2. It is my choice whether or not I respond to an emergency. I will not respond if it is unsafe for me to do so and I will not respond if I am impaired, for example by illness or alcohol consumption.
3. I understand that I should not have my phone on mute when responding, so that I can receive additional alerts from the ambulance service if required.
4. I understand that if additional information becomes available, for example the scene may be unsafe or the incident is no-longer a cardiac arrest, that I will receive an additional alert of 'assistance is no longer required' and I will stop responding.
5. I understand that if the address changes I will receive an additional alert of assistance is 'no-longer required' and then a separate alert notifying me of the correct address.
6. I will preferably go to the scene by foot. If I choose to drive to the scene I will drive at normal speed and will obey all driving rules and laws.
7. I will assess the scene for safety before entering and will only enter if I believe it is safe to do so. It is possible the emergency may be at a private address and in this situation, I will use additional judgement before approaching the scene.
8. I must identify myself to those present and offer to provide help, including asking for permission from the people present before entering a private residence whenever possible.
9. I am responsible for ensuring that my knowledge and skills are current, and I will only provide treatments that are within my usual skill set.
10. Although cardiac arrest is suspected, it is possible the emergency is not a cardiac arrest and I am prepared to provide first aid assistance for other emergencies.
11. I will immediately hand over the responsibility of providing treatment to emergency service personnel when they arrive and I may assist emergency service personnel if asked to do so.
12. I understand that if I require personal support following responding to an incident I should utilize my usual support processes, but if I require additional support I may email goodsam@stjohn.org.nz and a person will contact me.

By agreeing to be a GoodSAM responder I acknowledge that I understand and agree to all of the following terms and conditions:

1. I respond at my own risk. Neither GoodSAM nor the ambulance service is responsible for any loss, damage or injury suffered by me when responding to, or attending an emergency.

2. It is my choice whether or not I respond to an emergency. I will not respond if it is unsafe for me to do so and I will not respond if I am impaired, for example by illness or alcohol consumption.

3. I understand that I should not have my phone on mute when responding, so that I can receive additional alerts from the ambulance service if required.

4. I understand that if additional information becomes available, for example the scene may be unsafe or the incident is no-longer a cardiac arrest, that I will receive an additional alert of "assistance is no longer required" and I will stop responding.

5. I understand that if the address changes I will receive an additional alert of assistance is "no-longer required" and then a separate alert notifying me of the correct address.

6. I will preferably go to the scene by foot. If I choose to drive to the scene I will drive at normal speed and will obey all driving rules and laws.

7. I will assess the scene for safety before entering and will only enter if I believe it is safe to do so. It is possible the emergency may be at a private address and in this situation, I will use additional judgement before approaching the scene.

8. I must identify myself to those present and offer to provide help, including asking for permission from the people present before entering a private residence whenever possible.

9. I am responsible for ensuring that my knowledge and skills are current, and I will only provide treatments that are within my usual skill set.

10. Although cardiac arrest is suspected, it is possible the emergency is not a cardiac arrest and I am prepared to provide first aid assistance for other emergencies.

11. I will immediately hand over the responsibility of providing treatment to emergency service personnel when they arrive and I may assist emergency service personnel if asked to do so.

12. I understand that if I require personal support following responding to an incident I should utilize my usual support processes, but if I require additional support I may email Goodsam@stjohn.org.nz and a person will contact me.