Prince Charles visited Barbados in March 2019 and linked the NCCTRC with the team in the Carribean.

Disaster preparedness across the Commonwealth continues to be strengthened with the Barbados Defence Force recently classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an Emergency Medical Team Type 1.

The NCCTRC took part both as a verifier and observer at the September verification of the Barbados Defence Force and as a result the team visited Darwin in late 2019.

The Commonwealth Emergency Medical Team workshop provided an opportunity to share technical expertise with EMT experts from Commonwealth countries with an internationally deployable capability.

The National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre hosted New Zealand and Fiji along with Barbados for a three-day workshop at the NCCTRC new facility at Darwin International Airport.

The visit followed the recent announcement by the Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt, of a renewal of the NCCTRC’s funding until 2023.

Under a new project agreement with the Northern Territory Government, the Australian Government has allocated $67.6 million for the continued operation and development of the NCCTRC’s national and regional response capability, and its maintenance of a state of readiness to rapidly respond to disasters and health emergencies.

The renewed funding will enable the NCCTRC to continue to respond to incidents of national and regional significance and operate as a hub of evidence-based emergency care, research and education.

The NCCTRC trains, prepares and coordinates volunteer personnel from across the nation to form deployable Australian Medical Assistance Teams (AUSMAT). These teams consist of multidisciplinary health professionals from all states and territories, working together to respond to health emergencies within Australia and abroad.

While still maintaining a presence at Royal Darwin Hospital providing trauma and critical care and surge capacity to ensure the Top End is equipped, prepared and ready, the NCCTRC is now in a purpose-built facility at Darwin International Airport. From here, it is able to activate Australia’s first fully-equipped deployable field hospital.

The NCCTRC has also recently been formally accredited by Australia’s largest health care accreditation provider, the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards. This means it is effectively meeting internationally-recognised health standards and providing safe, quality care to patients. TQ