New training aimed at addressing gaps in the clinical health training continuum will be delivered next month at RAAF Base Amberley.
IMPACT - Integrated Medical High-Performance High-Acuity Clinical Training - targets gaps in the clinical health training continuum related to high-acuity, high-consequence scenarios in challenging operational environments with low rates of occurrence.
The first iteration of IMPACT was conducted by Air Force's Health Operational Conversion Unit at 2 Expeditionary Health Squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown in April.
Group Captain Andrew Pearce, an emergency medicine specialist and inaugural director of IMPACT, said the program was developed in response to clinical governance workshops held last year.
The workshops were run by now Air Commodore Andrew Johnson from the Directorate of Air Force Health and Wing Commander Alan Turner from the ADF Medical Specialist Program. It looked at the perceived training needs of health staff to ensure their ongoing clinical readiness in all aspects of their individual roles.
"IMPACT is a training activity focused on high-performance clinical teams practising their technical and non-technical skills in high acuity, high consequence scenarios in austere environments," Group Captain Pearce said.
"This is the first time Service Category 7 [full-time] doctors, nurses and medics have worked together in this space to look at mission readiness with the kit, uniform, tent and equipment they would deploy with, and as part of the teams they would deploy with."
A feature of IMPACT is the use of simulated scenario-based learning enhanced by embedded mentors.
"Building a variety of highly immersive, skills-based scenarios to get the team to work together - cardiac arrest management, mass casualties with burns and blast wounds that overwhelm the senses - is key to creating a safe yet realistic training environment that prepares participants for reality," Group Captain Pearce said.
"Mentors from the faculty are embedded in each group to give feedback and build a broad picture of each participant based on feedback from different clinical specialties. Such feedback is a gift and can make a huge difference to an individual's personal insights into how they're going and what they need to work on, as well as play an important quality assurance piece for commanding officers."
Corporal Mel Mogg, a medical technician with 2 Expeditionary Health Squadron, was surprised by how unique IMPACT was compared to other clinical health assurance training she had done in the past.
"It's wholly a learning activity. There's no pass or fail," Corporal Mogg said.
"There were no assessments, but we were being observed and given feedback by the instructors and our mentors. For me the experience was incredible. I really enjoyed the cognitive challenge as well as the teamwork and cohesion within all groups.
"The ability to ask questions and potentially be wrong, which creates a real vulnerability, helps correct techniques and inform future training.
"Committing to immerse yourself in the training without fear of failing, is a very different approach to anything I have experienced in my 10 years in Defence.
"Building a variety of highly immersive, skills-based scenarios to get the team to work together - cardiac arrest management, mass casualties with burns and blast wounds that overwhelm the senses - is key to creating a safe yet realistic training environment that prepares participants for reality."
IMPACT also afforded permanent members access to the clinical expertise of reservists from all over the country.
"Our health reserve force is a valuable resource that can be difficult to tap into a lot of the time because their primary focus is their civilian employment," Corporal Mogg said.
"I was impressed by the number of specialist reservists who were able to come together in the same location to run a program that was full of amazing technical training (equipment and clinical procedures) and non-technical training (debriefing and communication)."
Wing Commander Jason Lynam, Commanding Officer Health Operational Conversion Unit, said Air Force health services are responding to the implementation of agile operations.
"IMPACT epitomises a new era in clinical training in Defence, fostering innovative approaches to simulation, scenario-based learning and health team performance," Wing Commander Lynam said.
"The success of IMPACT represents an Air Force health initiative with the real potential to stimulate an integrated triservice approach to maintaining clinical readiness."
The next iteration of IMPACT will be delivered in October 2024 at RAAF Base Amberley.
