Australia's internationally recognised ability to respond to national health emergencies has been further strengthened with the opening of a world-class training facility at Bees Creek, just outside of Darwin.
The purpose-built Bees Creek training facility, funded by the Australian Government on land provided by the Territory Labor Government, supports the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre.
The new facility will provide training to both the Australian Medical Assistance Team personnel, and other emergency responders from across Australia and the Indo-Pacific. This ensures they are ready to respond to domestic and international health emergencies.
The Albanese Labor Government is providing $55.3 million over the next three years to ensure the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre is equipped and ready for health emergencies, both domestically and internationally.
Based in the outer rural area of Darwin, the training facility will upskill local and interstate health personnel in emergency responses and prepare AUSMAT health care professionals and logisticians for deployments though interactive class-based training and simulation exercises, all in one location.
The facility provides the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre with the opportunity to provide a range of different training and increase training frequency in an environment that simulates real world deployments.
Over the past 19 years, the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre has gained national and international recognition for its role in providing a coordinated and national approach to emergency response.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Selena Uibo:
"Through the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre, the Northern Territory is delivering and will continue to deliver top quality response to national emergency situations.
"Our Territory Labor Government has invested in the development of the land to make sure the Territory is at the centre of a national emergency response, providing first class training for health and emergency workers across the country.
"This training facility will offer exceptional training opportunities for our Territory health professional right here in the NT, to develop professionally through AUSMAT and work with health and emergency personnel from all over Australia.
"The NCCTRC is invaluable to the Territory and Australia - we have seen the incredible support it delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic, and domestic and international responses. We welcome this invaluable investment in the Northern Territory."
Quotes attributable to Federal Assistant Minister Malarndirri McCarthy:
"The Albanese Government applauds the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre for its role in emergency health response both here in Australia and overseas.
"We congratulate the Centre on its work in maintaining Australia's emergency medical team capability since its inception in 2005, ensuring a round-the-clock health emergency response capability nationally and regionally.
"The National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre efforts during COVID-19 were immense, through AUSMAT deployments and running the Howard Springs COVID-19 quarantine facility as well as being deployed on 26 missions (18 international and eight domestic) between 2019 and 2023.
"We recognise the crucial role the NCCTRC plays both domestically and internationally, through the Trauma Centre at Royal Darwin Hospital. This includes providing lifesaving treatment to eight US Marines following the Osprey incident in 2023, and the critical care it provides across northern Australia.
"I know all Australians appreciate the work of these dedicated personnel - and the Albanese Government is proud to support them with funding for the Bees Creek facility."
Northern Territory Government
