Written by Alyssa Harris
When I first applied for a placement at StreetKind, (a volunteer-run, non-profit harm prevention charity in Sydney) I knew it wouldn’t be your standard aged-care rotation. I was signing up for late nights, unknowns, and a whole lot of learning on the fly. I didn’t realise that the 5 hour road trip with a side of blown tire was just the beginning.
In the first week, I found myself helping someone in extreme circumstances with limited support and an ambulance still fifteen minutes out. It should’ve been overwhelming. Instead, something surprising happened, I felt calm. No tunnel vision, no panic, just a quiet, focused kind of steady. When it was over, my first thought was “Damn, I nailed that”. It gave me a real feel for what my career could be like, beyond classroom drills and the clean simulated scenarios.
Of course, not every job felt like a hero moment. Being out on the streets of Darling Harbour at 3am will teach you fast that not everyone wants your help. I met disgruntled bystanders, copped a taste of the verbal abuse frontline workers wear far too often, and realised that “doing your best to assist” doesn’t protect you from people’s worst moods. However, I learned a lot about how I manage conflict and got to test different ways of de-escalation. It wasn’t always perfect, but I walked away with a toolbox I didn’t have before and a new respect for the people in our workforce who do this night after night.
I met people from all walks of life and for some I stood with them on the worst day of their lives. That’s where the biggest shift happened for me: being a paramedic is so much more than the “fun stuff.” Communication and people skills matter just as much as clinical competence. I often found that the patient’s company soaked up as much care as the patient and calming them was often the first step to caring for the patient.
I also saw how community engagement builds trust. Being in uniform can be a wall or a bridge depending on your approach. If you earn trust, you’re not just patching people up; you’re providing health education and those quick chats add up.
I don’t get to Sydney often, so I went full tourist whenever I could. I ate great food, caught live music, and watched the fireworks every Saturday, there was even a surprise hotel room upgrade. Little moments made the heavy nights feel a bit lighter.
I won’t pretend it was all inspiring. It was financially tough, the hours were uncomfortable, and some scenes left me chewing over my reactions later. I learned how quickly judgement can sneak in, and how to correct it, and move on without tearing myself down. That’s a muscle I’ll be building for the rest of my career.
So would I recommend it? Absolutely. If you can make it work, StreetKind shows you parts of the job many first year placements can’t. It’s not glamorous. It’s not easy. But it’s real-world and it will grow you fast. I’m grateful I got to do it even if my bank account and car are still recovering.
Charlie blog is a SSAF funded initiative.
