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Sian is one of the paramedic stars of Onesie Appeal 2025.

“I was so focused on becoming a doctor. I’d planned my whole high school around that goal,” Sian says. She moved to Dunedin, completed her pre-med year and achieved strong results but not quite what was needed for medical school entry that year. “It was an extremely competitive time, and although I did well, I started thinking differently about what I actually wanted from a healthcare career.”

She went on to study genetics, imagining a future researching ways to prevent inherited conditions but something wasn’t sitting right.

“I realised I missed people. I’d always wanted to be in healthcare, but I needed that human connection. That’s when I discovered paramedicine. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t considered it sooner.”

To test the waters, Sian did a few ambulance ride-alongs and that was it.

“It wasn’t dramatic or action-packed just everyday calls: medical alarms, a little girl with a fracture, someone who had a fall. But I knew. I left that day feeling completely certain this is what I want to do.”

She went on to study paramedicine and hasn’t looked back. “It felt like all the paths I’d taken before led me here. It all made sense.”

Supporting people when they need it most

Now, more than two years into her career with Wellington Free Ambulance, Sian loves the unpredictability, the deep team connections, and the opportunity to support people when they need it most.

“There’s no such thing as a typical day, but we do a lot of chest pain and breathing related calls. You never know what’s coming next. That unpredictability keeps you sharp, and the team becomes your second family. We spend so much time together, and you always know someone’s got your back.”

Being a paramedic, Sian says, takes a special mix of empathy, patience, adaptability and calm.

“You need to be someone people feel they can talk to. We often have to make things work with whatever’s around us, and we rely heavily on each other. You learn to trust your training and your team and just focus on what you can do in that moment.”

A memorable moment

One moment that has stuck with her happened just two weeks into the job.

“I had finished my shift and was driving home when I got a message - cardiac arrest. I recognised the address; it was near my place. I saw my colleague fly past in the ambulance, and I thought, do I go? Do I not? I went.”

Arriving soon after, she found a chaotic scene: a patient unconscious on the roadside surrounded by bystanders.

“I was just two weeks into my role. It was way out of my comfort zone, but I jumped in to help. We ended up saving his life. That feeling when you see the heartbeat come back, it’s unforgettable.”

That moment showed Sian the magnitude of emergency services and how paramedics are part of something bigger than just ambulance. As she looked around, she was amazed at the sheer number of individuals involved in the care of one person - multiple ambulances, fire engines, police, and a helicopter. There had to be close to 20 staff. It was impressive to witness the collaboration between services, each with their unique skills, working seamlessly as a team. In the chaos, everyone relied on each other - lifting, treating, and protecting the scene.

“It can be daunting trying to find your place in these dynamics when you're a novice. My mentor encouraged me to get involved as much as I could. That trust meant so much,” she says.

Staying grounded

Outside of work, Sian keeps grounded through cooking, exercising, and spending time with friends and whānau. “I love to cook,” she says. “I do yoga, engage my creative brain with various half-started projects, potter in the garden, and spend quality time with friends and whānau.”

“Being a paramedic has changed how I see the world. You're not sheltered anymore. You witness so much isolation, pain, things most people never see. It makes you appreciate your own health and life more. You don’t take anything for granted.”

The moments that fuel her are often small.

“It’s the hand squeeze, the hug, the thank you. Sometimes you haven’t even done anything yet, but just showing up brings people relief. That’s the kind of impact we can have.”

The power of paramedics

Sian believes one of the most powerful things paramedics do is simply listen.

“We do a lot of reassurance. There’s such a big gap in public health knowledge; people often don’t fully understand their condition or know what medications they’re on. Taking a moment to explain, to empower - that can make all the difference.”

For Sian, putting on the Wellington Free Ambulance uniform is something she does with pride and honour.

“People welcome you into their homes, workplaces and their lives when they are most vulnerable. That trust is incredibly meaningful.”

Every call is different, every person unique, and every shift brings the chance to learn.

“You see so many sides of humanity - different cultures, beliefs, upbringings. It challenges your own thinking and makes you grow.”

Her words to describe what it means to be a paramedic are: dynamic, insightful and gratifying.

“There’s always more to learn, always another person to help. And that’s what keeps me going.”

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