Head Office

AMS Celebrates the Development of Women

To kickstart Women’s Month, where homage is paid to women of our nation who have helped shaped South Africa and to celebrate those who continue to lead the country, The AMS is celebrating the development of women in the highly skilled aero-medical environment. Minister, Nomafrench Mbombo guest of honour and keynote speaker recognised the role of women in this specialised technical environment that ensures the provision of healthcare services rendered to all communities.

The investment of the AMS training development programme has produced successful results.  The organisation successfully trained Ayesha Allies as the second female external load operator (ELO) in the civilian environment (the 1^st woman, Lindsey Cyster was also trained by the AMS & is still active in this role). Heather Arnold was employed as the first AMS female Captain on the Pilatus PC 12. Sabrina Govender, a young, newly graduated Emergency Care Practitioner (ECP) was empowered and developed to become a fully-fledged signed-out flight paramedic.

“At AMS we believe in investing in the future by developing skilled specialists and making a significant contribution to the industry. The organisation actively pursues programmes that addresses the shortage of skills within the aero-medical field. We are proud to celebrate the women in our industry who continue to make strides in our society to ensure that healthcare reaches all South Africans”, said Dr Philip Erasmus AMS CEO.

As part of the organisation’s added value service, the AMS established a training unit for the purpose of facilitation of learning and skills development. The establishment of a mobile medical training simulator unit funded by the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) provides a cost effective learning platform for medical personnel to be trained in the field of Emergency Medical Services. “This road based unit will make training more accessible to staff working in the rural areas, creating opportunities for career growth, capacity building, and skills development, ensuring the efficient and equitable utilisation of the air ambulance service. Currently, the role-out of this project is also being led by a young woman, Jocelyn Park-Ross”, Erasmus added.

“We encourage the development of this scarce skill among our emergency medical and aero-medical workers. I am especially proud of the women who train and are successful. We are proud to form part of Women’s Empowerment programme in partnership with AMS that extends beyond 40 years. The long standing partnership with AMS is one of the key factors for success of the programme” said Minister Mbombo.

Meet our team

Today our platform of getting to know our team allows us to introduce Gary Whittaker

Emergency Care Technician (ECT) at our Cape Town operation. Here’s a look into his world …

How long have you been with AMS? “I have been employed at Air Mercy Service (AMS) for the past four years, two years at the clinic and two years flight operations and loving it.”

 Tell us about yourself? “I was born and raised in Grassy Park, Cape Town. I attended St Anne’s Primary School, I matriculated at Grassy Park High School. I completed my Diploma in Electrical Engineering Heavy Current, completed my Basic Ambulance course at the Metro College and ECT at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). I have been active as a METRO volunteer for the past six years and I love giving time back to the community.”

Were you in any other trade before? “Yes, I have been active in the electrical and mechanical trade but the medical field was always my passion and still is.”

If you could master one skill you don’t have right now, what would it be? “I always find flying very interesting and it’s fascinating how the aircraft works, I would love to master the skill of flying the aircraft.”

What do you do in your spare time? “I spend time with my friends, family and my special lady. I enjoy fun times at family functions or being out around nature and having to spend time on the road being operational at METRO.”

What is the one thing about you few people know? “I can be shy at times and very active at church.”

 What do you enjoy most about your job? “The ability to interact with patients in terms of patient care, to make them feel comfortable. Good and happy is the ability to fly and make a difference in someone's life but not just that, also to save lives. Every day is different never the same and always learning.”

What is on your bedside table? “My bed lamp and books.”

If you could have dinner with five famous people from history, who would they be? “Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell and Chris Barnard.”

What has been the happiest day of your life? “The happiest day of my life was helping a lady that was giving birth in her car at Kenilworth centre and delivered twins and one of the twins was named after me.”

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be? “That would be running this country so I can restore the madness that's going on.”

What is your greatest indulgence? “I love chocolate.”

 What is the one thing, you can’t live without? “Lol having fun most important.”

Best piece of advice anyone ever gave you? “Best advice will definitely be - never listen to what people have to say about you, or what they think of you.  If you pay attention to what they say, you will get nowhere in life, which is so true.”

What animal best represents you and why? “Lol that will have to be a bear as it has two sides good and bad.”

 Any motto you live by? “Hard work always pays off at the end and never judge a book by its cover, open it and read it.”

Meet our Team ...

Today we get to know Jocelyn Park-Ross affectionately known as Jo, Clinical Training and Development based at our Head office. Here’s a look into her world…

How long have you been with AMS? “I started flying with AMS in 2012 when I worked for the provincial ambulance service and have worked here since 2014 as a flight paramedic at Cape Town base. A year ago I moved from Cape Town base into Head Office to take up a clinical training post.”

Tell us about yourself?  “I was born in Cape Town but grew up in Blantyre in Malawi where my Dad worked as an engineer building ships, schools, and dry docks– we moved to Cape Town in 1999, where I completed my  High School studies at Westerford . I studied to be a paramedic at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). I have a little sister who is my favourite person in the world.”

Were you in any other trade before? “I worked as a horse riding instructor during university and briefly as a dancer during the soccer world cup.”

What do you do in your spare time? “I spend time with friends, ride my horse, and drink gin. I love travelling, especially around Africa. I love anything to do with the ocean. I also go scuba diving as much as I can, just In case my research supervisor is reading this – I also spend a lot of time working on my Master’s thesis!”

What is the one thing about you few people know? “I love plants – possibly an obsessive amount.”

What do you enjoy most about your job? “I love that every day is different. My job includes clinical training, clinical governance, development of course materials, setting up new bases, flight paramedic shifts and everything in between. I love the people here at AMS and the passion they bring to their jobs.”

What is on your bedside table?

Flowers, always!

If you could have dinner with five famous people from history, who would they be? “I would give them all up to have dinner with my grandmother who passed away last year. I miss her terribly and I need her sweet chilli jam recipe.”

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be? “I would be a dive leader on a dive boat anywhere in the Caribbean (although after one day, I may just stay forever).”

Best piece of advice anyone ever gave you? “A mentor taught me to be solid about my goals but flexible about my methods of reaching them, and that being kind is more important than being right.”

Meet our Team ...

Today we get to know one of our National Operations Centre (NOC) Assistant’s a little better. Nolan Walters has been with the organisation for three years and is one of the members of a small team of dedicated individuals who ensures delivery of appropriate resources to those in need of specialised air ambulance and rescue assistance. Here’s a look into his world …

Tell us about yourself? “I was born in Cape Town, grew up in Belhar and is still currently residing there, just a few houses away from where I used to reside with my parents.”

Were you in any other trade before? “I did a course in Computer Software after I matriculated, then left to start my career in the medical field while working in retail part time.”

If you could master one skill you don’t have right now, what would it be? “Different types of welding.”

What do you do in your spare time? “Besides studying now or spending time with my family, I work on my unfinished project racing car.”

What is the one thing about you few people know? “I talk a lot once I get started – never knew that till the day my wife started pointing it out.”

What do you enjoy most about your job?  “Everything, I don’t have the most exciting job but seeing others do the exciting stuff gets me all excited.”

What is on your bedside table? “A lamp, my son’s two dolls, my son’s rattle toy and the TV remote - my things got chucked into the drawer when my son was born.”

If you could have dinner with five famous people from history, who would they be? “My four grandparents and my father’s eldest brother I never got to meet.”

What was your first thought when you woke up this morning? “I need to get up and get ready for work, but found myself waking up ­+-6 minutes later thinking the same thing but just with a more serious attitude.”

What has been the happiest day of your life? “The birth of my son.”

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be? “Give underprivileged kids the time of their lives.”

What is your greatest indulgence? “Adrenaline rush.”

What is the one thing, you can’t live without? “Spending time in the garage.”

Best piece of advice anyone ever gave you? “Forget about what others have to say about you, just focus on yourself and what you are doing.”

Any motto you live by? “Just live life and keep smiling.”