- Published:
- Tuesday 24 February 2026 at 2:00 pm
Jackson Auditore was driving along the South Gippsland Highway in June 2020 when his car slid on the wet road, hit an embankment and flipped.
He鈥檇 been on his way to meet friends for a camping trip, but the journey changed the trajectory of his life.
Driving behind Jackson was an off-duty 黄片视频 (AV) paramedic, who immediately stopped and came to help.
鈥淚 was so impressed with how he handled the situation and how he helped me,鈥 Jackson said.
鈥淗e made everything a whole lot better than it otherwise would have been.鈥
Jackson, the sole occupant of the car, was lucky. He was able to walk away from the crash with just a few cuts and bruises.
鈥淚t was an absolute fluke that I was ok, and it was the first time in my life that I had a close encounter with death. It made me think about what I was doing with my life.鈥
At the time, 27-year-old Jackson had recently been made redundant from his job in human resources and was searching for another role in the industry.
But the crash and his interactions with the off-duty AV paramedic brought Jackson鈥檚 future into focus.
鈥淚 wanted to do something that really helps the community and that I felt had more importance,鈥 he said.
鈥淚 wanted to be like the paramedic who made such a huge difference for me. I wanted to be able to help other people in the worst moments of their life.鈥
Jackson returned to university and studied a paramedicine degree. Five years on from the crash that changed his life, he began his new career as an AV graduate paramedic at the Ringwood ambulance branch.
鈥淚t鈥檚 everything I hoped it would be,鈥 he said.
鈥淓veryone I鈥檝e worked with has been absolutely fantastic. Friendly, helpful and I鈥檝e felt included from day one.
鈥淚鈥檝e had great clinical instructors and feel really supported in terms of learning and making sure I鈥檓 providing best care to patients. I鈥檓 really enjoying it.鈥
Jackson can tell his experience as an AV patient in 2020 is now positively influencing his work as a paramedic.
鈥淥ne thing about the off-duty paramedic that stood out to me was that once he鈥檇 made sure I wasn鈥檛 at death鈥檚 door, he was very light-hearted and friendly,鈥 Jackson said.
鈥淗e had a very positive, cheerful attitude and I remember how much that helped me in the moment. That memory absolutely influences how I interact with patients now.鈥
After about five months on the road, Jackson isn鈥檛 looking back. He is confident his career change was the right move.
鈥淭here have been a few cases where I genuinely feel like I鈥檝e been able to make a big difference 鈥 I鈥檝e been able to visibly see the patient improve after my care and treatment.
鈥淚t feels great to know that you鈥檝e improved someone鈥檚 situation when they鈥檙e in a really bad spot, and they鈥檙e always so appreciative and thankful.
鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 doing exactly what I鈥檓 supposed to be doing.鈥
Learn more about becoming a paramedic at AV.
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