NSW Ambulance is considering establishing a groundbreaking Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) pilot program in Hay, marking the first time such an initiative would operate in a NSW town that already has an existing ambulance centre.

The proposal has emerged from discussions between Hay Shire Council and NSW Ambulance, with both organisations recognising the town's unique isolation and specific emergency response needs that warrant this unprecedented approach.

Traditionally, CERT programs are deployed in areas without established ambulance services. However, Hay's geographical challenges and remote location have prompted NSW Ambulance to explore this innovative model, which could potentially serve as a template for other similarly situated rural communities across the state.

NSW Ambulance will host a public meeting on Wednesday 27 August at 6:30pm in the Hay Shire Council Chambers to gauge community interest and provide detailed information about the proposed program.

The meeting aims to answer community questions and assess local support for establishing a CERT in Hay. A light supper will be provided following the presentation, with RSVPs essential by Friday 22 August for catering and room setup purposes.

Community members interested in attending can contact Kerry McRae on (02) 6990 1100 to confirm their attendance.

Under the CERT model, trained local volunteers would work as NSW Ambulance Clinical Volunteers, responding to time-critical emergency cases where early clinical intervention could make a significant difference before paramedics arrive.

The program represents a partnership approach between communities and NSW Ambulance, designed to improve health outcomes for patients in regional, rural and remote locations across NSW.

Volunteers receive comprehensive training to handle emergency situations, providing crucial early intervention that can be life-saving in remote areas where ambulance response times may be extended due to distance.

Hay already has a strong foundation of community volunteerism in emergency services, with several residents having been recognised for their dedication.

The town's Honorary Ambulance Officers, including long-serving volunteer Allan Japp, have demonstrated the community's commitment to emergency response services.

This existing culture of service could prove valuable groundwork for implementing the CERT program successfully.

NSW Ambulance has expressed enthusiasm for the pilot program's potential to create a new model for emergency response in rural and remote areas. If successful, the Hay CERT could influence emergency response policy and service delivery across rural NSW.

The initiative acknowledges that while Hay has ambulance services, its isolation creates circumstances that could benefit from additional community-based emergency response capabilities.

The success of the proposed pilot program will largely depend on community engagement and volunteer interest. NSW Ambulance will be leading communication efforts to ensure residents understand the program's benefits and requirements.

Those interested in learning more about the CERT initiative or potentially volunteering are encouraged to attend the August public meeting, where detailed information about training requirements, time commitments and program expectations will be provided.

The meeting represents the first formal step toward potentially establishing this innovative emergency response model in Hay, with broader implications for rural emergency services across NSW.