Health has always played a major role in his family, he explains: "My grandmother was a paediatrician, my mother still is, my father worked as a biochemist at the Medical University of Graz and my two brothers are aspiring doctors." Thomas has also always found the fields of medicine and health exciting. He became a member of the Red Cross Youth in 2009 and has remained loyal to the Red Cross ever since. He completed a bachelor's degree programme in healthcare and nursing at the FH Joanneum and also attended numerous internal training courses at the Red Cross. He is now an emergency paramedic, a lecturer in first aid and paediatric emergencies, an emergency driver and has attended two management training courses. "Internally, I'm currently also part of the mentoring team and take new colleagues under my wing, so to speak."

He found a one-month internship in North Macedonia particularly instructive and exciting. "The national and international Red Cross worked together there and I worked with two friends in refugee aid, support and care on the border with Greece and Serbia." The dedicated student was also involved in the Erasmus+-funded project "Safer Schools and Kindergardens".

As he had not yet lost his desire to learn after completing his Bachelor's degree, he applied for the Master's degree programme at the Burgenland University of Applied Sciences.

But he is also very interested in topics such as the nursing crisis, the shortage of skilled labour and the training sector.

What he finds particularly exciting about his new degree programme is how cross-sectoral it is. "My fellow students are doctors, dieticians, midwives etc. - I find the networking of professions very exciting. I'm excited about everything that's coming and very motivated."

Work at the Red Cross has become more arduous since the outbreak of the pandemic, says Thomas. But his motivation is undiminished, he assures us. "I enjoy spending my time with people who could use it. I'm happy when I can give tips or advice or help with first aid measures. It's great that the system exists in this form." Some of his colleagues from the Graz City district office regularly support the Burgenland teams at the Nova Rock Festival. Perhaps Thomas will be there in future - he now has a connection to Burgenland.