St John Ambulance Australia is governed by a National Board of Directors, which consists of a Chair, 5 Directors with specific responsibilities and the chair of each state and territory St John Council. St John in each state and territory has its own council and is a seperate legal entity. The National Board of Directors determine national policy and set directions for the St John organisation across Australia.
St John Ambulance Australia is a charity with a strong volunteer ethos, is volunteer led and relies heavily on volunteers to undertake its charitable work. It is essentially self-funding with first aid training, the sale of publications and first aid kits, public duty income and donations funding its humanitarian objectives. St John Ambulance Australia is not dependent on government funding nor is attached to any one church or religious organisation.
St John Ambulance Australia is the Australian Priory of the international Order of St John, which is established under royal charter. The Australian members of the Order appoint a chapter which meets annually, but the chapter delegates day to day responsibility for the activities of St John Ambulance Australia to the National Board of Directors.