As Diwali approaches, Shepparton paramedic Sanjeetpal Singh reflects on a journey guided by the Sikh principle of sewa—selfless service. For him, joining Ambulance Victoria was not just a career move but an extension of deeply rooted values that define his faith and life philosophy.
Born in India and raised within a Sikh community, Sanjeetpal grew up with the understanding that helping others without expectation is a duty. “I grew up with this mindset that you help people who need help,” he said. “That’s the essence of sewa, and in many ways, it mirrors the message of Diwali—bringing light and hope where it’s needed most. My dad was a frontline worker, and I was also motivated by him to one day work in a role like that myself.”
His path to becoming a paramedic wasn’t straightforward. When he moved to Australia in 2007, Sanjeetpal took on a range of jobs—from driving taxis and trucks to working in security and car washes—before finding his way into Non-Emergency Patient Transport. “It’s taken a long time for me to be where I want to be,” he said. “Once I financially set myself up to spend some time studying, I went back to university after 10 years and here I am, I achieved my dream.”
Now part of Ambulance Victoria’s Graduate Bridging Paramedic program, Sanjeetpal is based in Shepparton, working alongside a close-knit team that he says has helped him feel at home. The program gives graduates hands-on experience, starting in medium acuity care before transitioning to emergency work.
His experiences so far have tested and strengthened his resolve. He recalls a complex homebirth case where both mother and baby were safely treated—a moment that earned him a commendation from colleagues across the health sector. “Both the mother and the baby ended up having really good outcomes, but for me, it was a challenging case psychologically,” he said. “It was also motivating to me to become better and while it showed me how challenging this job can be, it motivated me to keep going and keep doing a good job.”
For Sanjeetpal, empathy is central to his work. He believes his own experiences as a migrant and as someone who has worked across low-paying jobs give him a unique perspective. “I think what I’ve learned from my background is how to be a human and to treat others like a human,” he said. “Since moving to Australia, I’ve worked in jobs that paid very little and been part of a low socio-economic community, so I can understand how patients in these communities see life and how they think about medical care and what might be stopping them from reaching out for help.”
That shared understanding sometimes creates moments of unexpected connection. During one callout, a patient’s mother recognised his heritage. “She came up to me and asked, ‘are you Punjabi?’ and I told her I was. She said, ‘I don’t need to worry, if you’re Sikh, I know my son is going to be safe.’ That was really touching for me.”
His journey, he says, has been possible thanks to the encouragement of those around him. “I want to thank my AV mentor from my first placement, which I did in Colac in 2021. Not only was he a great clinical mentor but he also motivated me and had unbelievable trust in me. My partner has also been incredible – while I was studying, she was the one working and backing me up.”
Family support played a huge part in helping him return to study after a decade. “After 10 years, going back to university was really difficult for me and on the first day, I was so overwhelmed that I told myself I’d never go back. But I received a lot of support from my family, especially my brother, parents and my partner, who constantly encouraged me to stay focused on my studies and pursue what I truly wanted to do.”
As the festival of lights approaches, its message resonates strongly with Sanjeetpal’s work and spirit. “The message of Diwali—bringing light where there is darkness—resonates deeply in the work of paramedics, who often meet people in moments of distress and uncertainty. Just as Diwali inspires hope and renewal, paramedics embody that same spirit through their care and compassion, helping others find light during their most challenging times,” he said.
For Sanjeetpal, each callout is another opportunity to live the Sikh value of sewa—serving others without expectation, guided by empathy and hope.
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