Three-day intensive focuses on critical aeromedical training

Aeromedical students from across Australia will come together this week at Charles Darwin University's Casuarina campus for an intensive simulation on neonatal and paediatric retrievals.

Twelve health professionals will participate in the HEA582 Neonatal/Paediatric Retrieval Clinical Residential, a three-day intensive on best practices in critical care and retrieval.

The intensive program is part of Charles Darwin University’s (CDU) unit HEA582 - Essential Skills in Neonates and Paediatrics Retrieval. It was developed in partnership with the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC), CareFlight and the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).

Held from April 18 to 20 it will cover a range of practices across the neonatal and paediatric areas, including high-fidelity scenarios in the RFDS and CareFlight hangars and the CDU simulation centre.

The students will participate in a range of workshops and simulations on neonatal life support training, paediatric training in stabilisation of critical children, paediatric trauma management of unstable cervical spines, chest and pelvic injuries, using specialist equipment, and mission planning in both areas.

CDU School of Medicine Adjunct Associate Professor Mardi Steere said the unit provided students an opportunity to undertake hands-on training from experienced professionals and diverse organisations. 

“Creating muscle memory with hands-on skills is a really important part of learning and this tangible exposure will result in more effective translation of the principles to their own healthcare environments,” Dr Steere said.

“It's both effective training as well as a fun networking experience for a niche group of clinicians who are looking to improve their approaches to aeromedical care.

“This course reflects the reality that so much of our rural and remote healthcare is provided by highly skilled generalists with a deep understanding of our dispersed populations, rather than metro-based specialists with access to a suite of resources that just isn't available outside capital cities.”

The HEA582 - Essential Skills in Neonates and Paediatrics Retrieval is a unit of study provided in the Graduate Certificate of Aeromedical Retrieval and Master of Aeromedical Retrieval.

CDU Menzies School of Medicine Foundation Dean Professor Dianne Stephens said the training provided students with invaluable medical experience.

“CDU Menzies School of Medicine is uniquely positioned in the NT to provide our aeromedical retrieval students with exposure to the clinical expertise required to service rural, regional, and remote communities,” Professor Stephens said.

“It is a privilege to work with our partners NCCTRC, CareFlight and RFDS to deliver this essential training.”

For more information on the CDU Menzies School of Health and courses, visit here.