A Charles Sturt University (CSU) distance education student in Western Australia has been awarded the prestigious WA Department of Health Bali Memorial Fellowship to assist his research to improve the planning of mass medical evacuations during a crisis.
Mr Steve Curnin, a senior policy officer with WA Health who also works as a flight nurse with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), is studying for a Master of Emergency Management through the CSU Australian Graduate School of Policing. He says the research will highlight the possibility of using large civilian jets configured for aeromedical use in the event of a disaster, and the Fellowship will enable him to extend his research internationally to examine the role of civilian fixed-wing aeromedical services in mass casualty incidents (MCI) in Western Australia.
“I’m proud to have been awarded the 2010 Bali Memorial Fellowship and will use it to consult aeromedical evacuation services and experts in Germany, Sweden and Israel who have experience in the use of fixed-wing aeromedical services in MCI. These operators have participated in large scale aeromedical evacuations, and have also used jet aircraft to transport multiple casualties in the civilian and military environments.”
Following the Bali bombing on 12 October 2002, the WA state government established the Bali Memorial Fellowship, valued at $20 000, as a living memorial to formally recognise and honour the invaluable contribution that nurses make to health services, especially in the event of a major disaster. The Fellowship provides the opportunity for a nurse to undertake a study tour to examine new innovations, best practice or evidence-based nursing in action with respect to disaster management.
“Although the research will focus on the role of civilian fixed-wing aeromedical services in a disaster from a Western Australia perspective, I expect it will be relevant to a wider audience, and will benefit other aeromedical services in Australia as it could assist in their local aeromedical disaster arrangements,” Mr Curnin said.
“This research might also assist the Australian Medical Transport Coordination Group to review its national aeromedical emergency management transport arrangements, and consider the role of large civilian jets configured for aeromedical use.
“For example, federally, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) provides assistance in MCI involving Australian citizens both within Australia and overseas. But with an increased commitment to overseas deployment in recent times, the RAAF may not have the capability to provide immediate assistance to every disaster. At these times, it may be necessary for the federal government to use large jets configured for aeromedical use as part of a nationally coordinated civilian aeromedical response.
Social
Explore the world of social