1920 to 1952
In 1920 there were a number of ambulance services operating in Adelaide and its suburbs, including SA Ambulance Transport, SA Police (Civil Ambulance), and various private groups.
In 1952 the Government of South Australia formalised ambulance provision, with St John being chosen to provide all metropolitan ambulance services and most country ones.
1950 to 1989
Once a two-way radio system was introduced in the 1950s calls for assistance were directed to the hospital, which would dispatch the town ambulance. Around this time, medical officers in training began to be employed by the ambulance service during their holidays. The quality of patient care greatly improved around this time.
St John continued to provide ambulance services in South Australia until 1989, when the metropolitan workforce was converted to a fully paid career service.
1992 to actual
In 1992 St John Ambulance Service and SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) became two separate entities, with SAAS providing emergency and non-emergency ambulance services across South Australia and St John Ambulance SA providing important first aid training, first aid equipment, services at public events, and some community activities.