The National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre hosted the inaugural Regional Emergency Medical Team (EMT) Interoperability Forum in Nadi, Fiji — a two- day event bringing together EMTs from across the Pacific to strengthen collaboration during disasters.

Funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and attended by World Health Organisation (WHO) representatives as observers., the two-day event was a platform for more than 35 participants from eight EMTs to exchange knowledge, share experiences and build a more connected Pacific health emergency network.

Teams taking part in the forum reflected the diverse expertise and contexts across the region, and included representatives from:

• Fiji Emergency Medical Assistance Team (FEMAT)
• New Zealand Medical Assistance Team (NZMAT)
• Papua New Guinea Emergency Medical Team (PNGEMT)
• Pasifika Medical Association Medical Assistance Team (PACMAT)
• Samoa Emergency Medical Assistance Team (SEMAT)
• Solomon Islands Medical
• Assistance Team (SOLMAT)
• Tonga Emergency Medical Assistance Team (TEMAT)
• Vanuatu Medical Assistance Team (VANMAT)
• Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT)

The forum focused on key operational areas, including how EMTs embed into another team’s deployment, request or offer support effectively and strengthen their systems based on local needs.

While AUSMAT remains available to assist across the Pacific, the forum reinforced regional leadership and peer-led coordinator as the foundation for future emergency responses efforts.

“This forum isn’t about one team leading the others,” said a participant. “It’s about all of us stepping up, sharing what we know and figuring out how to support each other better.”

With continued discussion and partnerships, the Pacific region is moving toward stronger, more self-sufficient health emergency systems, built on mutual trust, respect and shared expertise. TQ

The Darwin-based National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre was born out of tragedy.

Prime Minister John Howard stumped up the money for the centre after then Royal Darwin Hospital superintendent Len Notaras put the idea to him following the Bali Bombings.

It has developed into an efficient, sustainable, dynamic body saluted by health authorities throughout the world.

The World Health Organisation sees it as the standard for global disaster preparedness and response agencies.

“We’ve built an international reputation based on trust and sustainability,” says Professor Notaras, who has led the centre since its establishment more than 20 years ago.

The NCCTRC model has now been adopted globally and the Emergency

Medical Team standards written into the “blue book”, a manual that is now the international “bible” for disaster response and preparedness.

The NCCTRC has trained hundreds of health professionals throughout Australia and New Zealand to support the Australian Medical Assistance Team, the disaster response unit that has gone to the aid of local health services following everything from earthquakes to outbreaks of disease. TQ