"I rise today to pay tribute to the contribution of a resident of Bean. Val Dempsey was the 2022 Senior Australian of the Year, an accolade she earned for decades of service as a St John Ambulance volunteer."

Address to the Federation Chamber, Statements by Members - Val Dempsey 

Monday 6 February 2023

I rise today to pay tribute to the contribution of a resident of Bean. Val Dempsey was the 2022 Senior Australian of the Year, an accolade she earned for decades of service as a St John Ambulance volunteer. Her tenure as Senior Australian of the Year was marked by some significant events, particularly the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Val accompanied our Prime Minister to the funeral service of Her Majesty and ably represented all of us there.

Val has taken her time as Senior Australian of the Year very seriously and has worked hard to achieve a legacy of improvement. In particular, Val has been campaigning to get more young people trained in first aid skills.

The criticality of the application of first aid during accidents is clear. An injured person is much more likely to recover and survive if first aid is applied while medical assistance is en route. Given the number of our young people who are, sadly, caught up in motor vehicle accidents, it's essential that more of them have the skills to help save a life.

Val's vision is that first aid courses be mandatory for all learner drivers in the course of obtaining their permits. Data from other jurisdictions suggests that this could be life saving. I believe this is a sensible proposal to embed an important life skill in our community. I support Val's vision and look forward to working with her to make it a reality.