News and Events
2-day Paramedic Research Workshop in Malaysia.
Department of Paramedicine staff Professor Brett Williams and Associate Professor Paul Jennings convened and led a 2-day research workshop for Malaysian and Indonesian paramedics and ambulance nurses recently. This inaugural event attended by over 110 delegates was supported in collaboration with the National Institute of Health, Malaysia and the Royal College of Malaysian Physicians with the objective of supporting paramedics and ambulance nurses with basic skills in research. At the conclusion of the workshop over 20 research projects were developed and presented.
Extrication Simulation Car for Paramedicine
The Paramedicine department are delighted to have taken delivery of their new Extrication Simulation Car, which has been funded by an equipment grant from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.
The Extrication Simulation Car has been designed by paramedic Lecturer Brian Haskins and is constructed from a Holden Falcon Wagon which was generously donated by the RACV Group.
It has removable doors, A and B support pillars, front windshield and roof, allowing our paramedics students and participants on our PHTLS courses to practice extrication techniques that are utilised when the ‘Jaws of Life’ are required to gain access to a patient.
Paramedicine preparing for a Restart-a-heart year in 2019
Following on from their successful participation in Restart-a-Heart day on October the 16th this year, Monash Paramedicine student facilitators are preparing to run more bystander CPR and AED training sessions throughout 2019 for local schools, sports clubs and community organisations.
This training not only benefits the local community but will also benefits the participating paramedic students by allowing them to develop their communication and teaching skills, while gaining an appreciation of the importance of paramedic-led public health education.
To facilitate this training we are delighted to receive a donation of 4 specialised Brayden CPR manikins from Heart Wings / Defibs-R-US. These manikins are perfect for teaching bystander CPR, as AED lights embedded in the manikin simulate blood been circulated to the brain once chest compressions are sufficient. However if stopped, it takes 8 – 10 compressions to start the blood circulating again, highlighting the importance of continuous CPR to ensure brain perfusion.
A generous grant from the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Major Campuses and Student Engagement) allowed us to purchase an additional 6 specialised Brayden CPR manikins and 10 AED trainers. This extra equipment will allow us to teach larger community groups and sports clubs the importance of bystander CPR and show them how easy it is to use a public access AED to defibrillate a person in cardiac arrest.
We were also delighted to receive a donation of 5 ‘out of service’ defibrillators from Bayside Shopping Centre. These defibrillators have been serviced and will be re-donated to local sports clubs and organisations who can organise 100 + members to attend ‘bystander CPR and AED use training sessions’ facilitated by our paramedic students.
For more information, please contact; Brian Haskins – brian.haskins@monash.edu, PhD Scholar (PEC-ANZ) / Paramedic Lecturer (DCEHPP).
Monash Paramedics and Monash Addiction Research Centre featured on the ABC
Researchers from the Monash Addiction Research Centre (MARC) A/Prof Suzanne Nielsen and Melissa Middleton conducted a study on changes in prescribing trends for codeine and other commonly prescribed opioids following the up-scheduling of the codeine to prescription only medication. The analyses showed that despite concerns, substitution of over-the-counter codeine with higher strength prescribed codeine was not observed at a population level, nor did a shift to other prescribed opioids appear to occur. The results were presented at the International Medicine in Addiction Conference Melbourne in March 2019, and attracted media interest.
This story was also presented by ABC’s the 7.30 Report. This was filmed in Building H on the Peninsula Campus with paramedic students from the Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice.
You can read more about the story here.
Filming for the 7.30 report with A/Professor Suzanne Nielsen and Paramedic studentsNatasha, Taylor, Lorna and Victoria.
Paramedicine partners with Ambulance Victoria for its 20th year
Life-saving treatment models
Each year, more than 50,000 Australians will have a heart attack.
Professor Stephen Nicholls and Brian Haskins are working on life-saving treatment models to change this statistic.
Paramedicine and Kokushikan University sign MoU
Monash Paramedicine is pleased to announce the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kokushikan University (Graduate School of Emergency Medical Systems). This agreement was officially signed last week by Professor Margaret Gardner and Professor Keiichi Satoh. The MoU signifies clear intent between both universities and their respective paramedicine programs. Key aims of the MoU include exchange of scholars, student placements and conducting joint research projects.
Bystander CPR and AED use - Community Education by Monash Paramedic Students
Paramedic students from Monash Paramedicine recently taught hands-only CPR and the use of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) to members of the Edithvale Aspendale Netball Club.
Paramedic Lecturer Brian Haskins and 9 Paramedic Students taught these lifesaving skills to 30 members of the Netball Club.
Brian who is a PhD scholar researching the ‘Optimisation of 1st Responders for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests in Victoria’ with the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Pre-hospital Emergency Care Australia and New Zealand (PEC-ANZ), explained to the group the vital interventions bystanders can provide to give victims of cardiac arrest the best chances of survival. The interventions are:
- Recognition - Cardiac arrest causes the heart to stop pumping blood, the signs of this are sudden collapse, unresponsiveness and abnormal breathing.
- Call 000 – This is the next vital step as it will trigger not only the dispatch of Ambulance Victoria Paramedics but also 3 GoodSAM responders who are within a 500m radius of your location. The GoodSAM responders are trained CPR providers who have signed up to the GoodSAM app with Ambulance Victoria. The 000 operator will also help you with CPR.
- Start CPR – Compressing the chest 2 inches, between the nipples at 120 times a minute (sing Baby Shark!), allows blood flow to the brain and cardiac tissue. This increase the time that the heart will respond to defibrillation. Early CPR is vital, as there is a 10% decrease in survival rates for even minute without CPR.
- Get a defibrillator – defibrillation is required to reset the heart’s electrical system and start the heart beating normally again. Bystander defibrillations has survival rates of 60 – 70%, comparted to only 29% if defibrillation is performed by Paramedics when they arrive.
The paramedic students showed the club members how to perform bystander CPR and the importance of pushing ‘hard and fast’ on the chest without stopping. Using our simulation defibrillators, they got the members to defibrillate the manikins and explained that all public access defibrillators have been designed for public use without training. All you have to do is turn them on and follow the instructions, they will not deliver a shock unless the internal computer in the unit detects a suitable heart rhythm, so you cannot harm someone by using public access defibrillator.If you would like to organise a similar bystander CPR and AED training session for your club, organisation or school, please email Brian at brian.haskins@monash.edu.
VC Awards Success for Paramedicine
Simon Sawyer from the Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice was also awarded a Vice Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence (Early Career) for his sustained excellence in teaching. Simon has introduced new content into the Paramedicine degree, which helps students to build their physical and mental resilience to undertake the paramedic role. Simon has also introduced new content on family violence into the course, and is now working as part of a team of collaborators from across Monash who are introducing comprehensive education and training for all healthcare students to help them support patients experiencing family violence.
Excellence Award
The Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice’s Craig Taylor has won the 2018 Monash Student Association Teaching Awards (Teaching Excellence) for the entire Faculty. This award is testament to Craig's teaching excellence and commitment to students' learning, performance and general wellbeing.
Paramedic Research features on Channel 9 news.
Ben Meadley is involved in a study about testing the fitness levels of Victorian Intensive Care Flight Paramedics and how fit they need to be. Watch the full news story here.
Community Education by Monash Paramedic Students
Monash paramedic students from the Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice (DCEHPP) taught hands-only CPR and the use of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) to both players, coaches and parents at the Glen Eira Football Club, Family Gala Day on Saturday the 18th of August.
Demonstrations of hands-only CPR and AED use were presented by the paramedic students throughout the day. DCEHPP Paramedic Lecturer Brian Haskins explained how important the chain of survival is and how bystanders need to act quickly, by recognising a cardiac arrest, calling 000, starting CPR and defibrillating the patient.
The Paramedic students taught over 100 players and their families hands only CPR and AED use. We were delighted that the Mayor of Glen Eira, Tony Athanasopoulos and State Member for Oakleigh, Steve Dimopoulos dropped by to show us their hands on approach!
Thank you Glen Eira Football Club for inviting our Paramedic DCEHPP students to their Family Gala Day to teach bystander CPR and AED use.
DCEHPP the only Australian University approved to teach NAEMT Courses.
DCEHPP were recently approved by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) US as a training site to teach the following course nationally and internationally; a first for any Australian university. The courses include:
- Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS)
- Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS)
- Geriatric Education for EMS (GEMS)
The first of these courses will be offered early July (3-4th, 7th, 9-10th) supporting our Paramedicine Conference held at Peninsula Campus. These courses while originally developed for paramedics, now include and accept other professions and first responders such as: medicine, nursing, firefighters and lifeguards. Registrations for courses will be available via brett.williams@monash.edu
New Partnership between DCEHPP and the Australian & New Zealand College of Paramedicine.
We are very pleased to announce the Paramedicine Research Symposium, a partnership between Monash University through the Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice and the Australian & New Zealand College of Paramedicine. The Symposium will be held on 5th & 6th July 2018 at Monash Peninsula Campus, and is a showcase for paramedicine research and opportunities for research training.
(Dr Kelly Bowles and A/Prof Bill Lord at the launch of the joint paramedicine conference and MoU signing)
DCEHPP Hosts Delegation from Kokushikan University
DCEHPP recently hosted a delegation of eight from Kokushikan University, Japan; this followed a keynote speaking invitation by Kokushikan University for Prof Brett Williams in March. The delegation led by Professor Hideharu Tanaka, Head of the Graduate School and Research institute of Disaster and EMS visited DCEHPP’s teaching and research facilities at Peninsula Campus and Notting Hill. Other visits included Air Ambulance Victoria, Ambulance Victoria Research Department, CAVE2 and a number of staff attended Emergency Ambulance Observer shifts with Ambulance Victoria. Opportunities for collaborative scholarship are now underway with a Memorandum of Understanding being formalised between Kokushikan University and Monash University.
Ric (Frederic) Bouvier Honours Scholarships celebration
A huge congratulations to Belinda Delardes and Alex Jose for being awarded the prestigious Ric Bouvier Honours Scholarship from the Department of Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice. This full scholarship will enable Belinda and Alex to take their paramedicine skills to the next level allowing them to contribute to research in three key areas; advancing paramedic practice, enhancing paramedic education and improving paramedic wellbeing.
Dr Ric Bouvier was an icon in the evolution of ambulance services and the paramedic as a professional in the Latrobe Valley where he lived and practised most of his professional life. He was the co-initiator of the Latrobe Valley Ambulance Service, member of its committee for over 25 years and was President of Victorian Ambulance Services Association (VASA) for 25 years. In addition, Ric helped establish the Ambulance Officer School at Geelong in 1961.
Ric also established the direction for Ambulance Officer education in that era and remained a member of the Ambulance Officers’ Training College (AOTC) Advisory Committee. He lectured and examined at the AOTC for many years and influenced advancing the clinical practice of Ambulance Officers and their engagement in the community
Without his leadership, paramedic education and scholarships would not be possible to the standard that it is today. Given the recent passing of Ric in 2017, the Paramedic department deemed it appropriate to name an Honours Scholarship after him. Through the generous support of Ric’s family, the next era of paramedics will be given a great opportunity to continue Ric’s legacy and build strong foundations for the future direction of research in paramedicine.
Professors David Copolov, Terry Haines, and Brett Williams, along with staff from the Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice, hosted afternoon tea for members of the Bouvier family this week providing them with the opportunity to meet Belinda and Alex.
DCEHPP in US
Dr Cameron Gosling and Mr Matthew Stewart travelled to the US in February, visiting Los Angeles and Minneapolis/St Paul area of Minnesota. Their first stop saw them visiting the Paramedic program at UCLA where they witnessed intense debate between students during an ethics class.
During the UCLA visit, they witnessed the delivery of both the face-to-face education model and their partially online hybrid mode.
They then travelled onwards to Minnesota where they were greeted by a -21 °C day and a city blanketed in snow. Kindly invited and hosted by Zoll and Dr Keith Lurie they attended the Hennepin County Medical Center resuscitation laboratory to witness their current research utilising a porcine model of cardiac arrest.
They attended a weekend conference in EMS education research hosted by FISDAP, which saw them working with paramedic educators from the USA, Canada, Japan, Ecuador and Columbia. The conference represented a great chance for DCEHPP to network with paramedic educators and researchers around the world. The research summit, which involved group analysis of data generated by thousands of students, will result in numerous conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications.
A key focus of the trip to Minnesota was the chance to forge relationships with local ambulance service providers and open up the possibility of cultural exchange trips for undergraduate paramedic students from Monash University.
The trip has opened up the networks for educational and research collaborations with US paramedic services and educators. It has also provided Monash paramedic students with potential cultural exchange opportunities to learn from emergency service models that are very different from the experience they gain through clinical placements in Victoria.
Summer Scholarship Successes and Reflections: Ashleigh Delorenzo
Last year I was involved in the Summer Research Scholarship program with the Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice. My project was run in conjunction with Ambulance Victoria (AV), exploring the characteristics of fixed-wing air ambulance transports. Over the eight-week period I spent my time at AV headquarters working with the research team, as well as participating in research workshops at Monash. My project was then accepted for a poster presentation at the AeroMed Conference in New Zealand and the Student Paramedics Australasia Conference in Sydney, both of which I attended last year. More recently the manuscript was published in the Air Medical Journal.
Participating in the Summer Scholarship program has been an extremely positive learning experience. Working on this project enabled me to further my research skills, network with other professionals in the field and further my own personal development. I have gained experience in ethics applications, data cleaning and analysis as well as the publication process. The Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice provided a supportive environment and have continued to encourage me to build on my research skills beyond this project. This has been a great opportunity that I am extremely grateful to have experienced and I would encourage all students to become involved with this program at any opportunity.
“Restart your Heart” event
The Monash University DCEHPP was delighted to collaborate with Ambulance Victoria for this year’s ’Restart a Heart Day’ on 16 October. In total, forty of our paramedic students and five academics volunteered their time to teach bystander CPR (hands only CPR) and AED use to our local communities, as part of Restart a Heart Day. Bystander CPR and AED use has been shown to double survival rates to hospital discharge, for persons suffering an out of hospital cardiac arrest. Research has estimated that for each minute a person is in cardiac arrest and does not receive CPR, their chances of survival decrease by 10%. In reality, this means that if a person in cardiac arrest has not received bystander CPR, the chances of a paramedic being able to revive them is greatly reduced.
In preparation for ‘Restart a Heart Day’, Ceinwen Rataj, a Community Educator from Ambulance Victoria’s Community Education and Engagement Department and Brian Haskins, Monash Paramedic Lecturer, ran a number of ‘Train the Trainer’ sessions at the Peninsula Campus, to show the student paramedics how to engage with the public and teach bystander CPR and AED use.
On Restart a Heart Day, Monash paramedic students and staff, ran CPR training events at Clayton and Peninsula Campuses, Bayside Shopping Centre in Frankston, the Frankston Council Chambers and in the evening at the Frankston Pier. We were very fortunate to have Jennifer Dordevic and Helen Powell who coordinate First Aid Programs at Monash and Ceinwen Rataj from Ambulance Victoria join us for the Clayton and Bayside events respectively. In total between 250 and 300 people were taught bystander CPR and AED use by Monash paramedic students and staff on Restart a Heart Day.
This event was a wonderful opportunity for Monash paramedic students to give something back to their local communities, while practising their communication skills and embracing the concept of paramedic lead community / public health initiatives. Teaching the public how to preform bystander CPR and to use public access AEDs is the most effective way we can increase the survival rates for out of hospital cardiac arrests.
Paramedic students on Clinical Placement in Vietnam
Paramedic lecturer Brian Haskins travelled to Vietnam in November with 10 Monash students taking part in the Interprofessional Placement in Vietnam from the Faculty of MNHS. Brian accompanied the students during their orientation week prior to their clinical placements. The orientation, organised by Scope Global our in country partners, helps the students adjust to life in Vietnam with culture awareness lessons, Vietnamese lessons and visits to their three clinical placement sites in Ho Chi Minh City, the Oncological Hospital, the Orthopaedic & Rehab Hospital and the University Hospital. Clinical placement days are scheduled for 4 days a week, which leaves long weekends for traveling and experiencing the culture of Vietnam. The students complete reflective practice assignments during their placements to help them inform their understanding of other healthcare professionals, the Vietnamese healthcare system and their own clinical practice. Next year Interprofessional Placements will be available in both Vietnam and Cambodia.
Inaugural DCEHPP research symposium
At the end of September, DCEHPP hosted our first research symposium titled ‘Professionalisation of Paramedic Through Research Symposium’. This was a two day event that has held at the Peninsula campus of Monash University and was attended by over 40 researchers and clinicians.
Day 1 of the event provided attendees the opportunity to hear from leaders in the paramedic research environment, with the opportunity to also contribute their own research findings. The morning session included keynote speakers who have all contributed to the quality research previously and currently completed in the prehospital and emergency health field. This session was concluded with a panel discussion on the current barriers and enablers of research for paramedics. The afternoon session gave all researchers (novice through to experienced) an opportunity to share their work in oral presentations and/or research posters. Day 2 involved research skills sessions facilitated by a range of academic and professional staff. This was run alongside the School of Primary and Allied Health Care Research Conference. These skills sessions included topics such as ‘Structuring a Systematic Review’, ‘How to complete advanced literature searching’ and ‘What do I need in my Ethics application’. The symposium was aimed at all levels of paramedics (students to intensive paramedics) and those working in the emergency health field, as well as higher degree by research students and academics. It was a fantastic symposium and we are all looking forward to making it bigger and better in 2018.
Paramedic University Challenge won by Monash University
Three years of hard work and study have paid off for Monash university students Benjamin Jenkins, Georgie Fraser, Nicholas Moffat and Ashleigh Delorenzo who recently represented Monash University DCEHPP at the Australia and New Zealand College of Ambulance Professionals University Challenge (ANZCP) held in Brisbane.
Simulated patient at the challenge
“Challenge” is a very accurate word as students (working in pairs) were assessed on their management of medical and trauma scenarios, along with a critical reasoning simulation and a clinical presentation on a topic of their choice.
Clinical scenarios requiring complex decision making and thorough clinical assessment showed the level of experience and knowledge that is gained by students studying at Monash University.
Clinical presentation topics varied greatly from post-partum haemorrhage to the use of drones to deliver defibrillators to cardiac arrest victims. Monash University students Ashleigh and Nicholas were fortunate to win this category with their presentation on Double Sequential Defibrillation, a relatively new innovation for the cessation of refractory Ventricular Fibrillation. The overall challenge was also won by Monash Students Ashleigh and Nicholas who delivered a consistently high level of clinical expertise of all areas.
All students stood tall for Monash University and displayed a very high level of professionalism and respect in both competition and then following at the conference where they wore their Monash hats with pride
Three Minute Thesis success
Three minutes, one slide, one chance to sum up years of complex research.
Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is an annual competition that gives Graduate Research students the opportunity to present their thesis in just 3 minutes. Limited by time, the challenge lies in creatively condensing and conveying their research to a general, non-specialist audience.
After a series of fiercely competitive faculty rounds, 13 finalists competed in the Monash 3MT final on 10 August at Clayton campus.
Paramedic PhD student, Simon Sawyer, emerged victorious as this year’s 3MT Monash winner with his presentation ‘Paramedics: A new resource for women experiencing Intimate Partner Violence’.
Simon’s thesis focuses on equipping paramedics with the knowledge and resources to recognise and respond to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). At a time when one woman dies in Australia each week at the hands of a current or previous partner, it’s research that is especially timely.
“As part of this educational response I have created the world's first guideline for paramedics to recognise and respond to IPV. This guideline can be easily modified for use anywhere in the world, and will allow paramedics to more effectively recognise the signs of violence and talk to patients about IPV, including connecting them with care and support,” Simon said.
Simon will now represent Monash at the Asia-Pacific 3MT finals at the University of Queensland next month
Accreditation
Last week the Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice (DCEHPP) hosted the Council of Ambulance Authorities (CAA) accreditation site team at Peninsula Campus for the Bachelor of Paramedicine re-accreditation. The two-day visit included interviews with senior Faculty staff (Prof David Copolov [Pro Vice-Chancellor, Major Campuses and Student Engagement] and Prof Grant Russell [Head, School of Primary and Allied Health Care]) as well as interviews with DCEHPP staff, students, sessionals and alumni. The visit also included an overview of the new immersive simulation centre and postgraduate facilities at Notting Hill. Over the two-days the site team were provided background on the Bachelor Paramedicine, DCHEPPs strategic and marketing plan, clinical placements and new service models, pedagogical and assessment innovations, student welfare and OH&S and research growth and capacity. The site team were extremely impressed with all facets of our program, the staff morale and enthusiasm and openly stated our standing as national (and international) leader in paramedic education and research. We have been granted accreditation till 2022. A great achievement and testament to everyone's commitment to our program, university and profession.
Simon Sawyer wins Faculty 3-minute thesis award
Big congratulations to Simon Sawyer for winning the Faculty’s 3-minute thesis award last month. Simon’s presentation examined his PhD work on the “The paramedic response to intimate partner violence”. Simon will now represent the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at the University awards on the 10th of August.
DCEHPP celebrates Ramadan Iftar
DCEHPP staff and our three of our current Middle Eastern PhD students (Eihab Khasawneh, Saeed Alqahtani, Ahmad Alrawash) celebrated our inaugural Ramadan Iftar at Peninsula Campus. A range of food, both local and Middle Eastern were offered in celebration to our students and staff who had fasted throughout the day. We were also very pleased to be joined by Professor David Copolov (Pro Vice Chancellor, Major Campuses and Student Engagement) who was very pleased with the Peninsula Campus engaging in cultural activities such as a Ramadan Iftar.
Pictured L-R: Eihab Khasawneh, Professor David Copolov, Saeed Alqahtani, Ahmad Alrawash, Associate Professor Brett Williams
Congratulations to Dr Ala’a Oteir
DECHPP would like to extend their congratulations to Dr Ala’a Oteir for his recent PhD graduation; Dr Ala’a becomes the very first Jordanian paramedic to graduate with a PhD. In his doctoral research, Dr Ala’a Oteir investigated the prehospital management and epidemiology of suspected Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) in Victoria, with an emphasis on how prehospital spinal immobilisation would affect the patients’ outcomes.
Acknowledgements go to Dr Ala’a supervision team: Professor Just Stoelwinder, Professor Karen Smith, and Dr Paul Jennings. Dr Ala’a is now the paramedic leader at the Jordan University of Science and Technology.
DCEHPP continues its funding success
Simon Sawyer and staff from the Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic were recently successful in obtaining funding from the School of Primary and Allied Health Care for the following project: “An outcome measure for intimate partner violence educational interventions”. The impact of the project is significant. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a leading contributor to death and illness for women. The healthcare sector response centres on improving the education of practitioners to recognise and refer patients to care and support. The evaluation of educational interventions is problematic due to a lack of robust outcome measures.
This project aims to create a new outcome measure to measure the impact of educational interventions on the knowledge, attitudes and skills of healthcare students and professionals. Currently there are no tools with reported psychometric testing demonstrating they are robust measures of the knowledge, attitudes and skills for healthcare professionals in Australia. The project will be completed in 12 months and outcomes will allow other healthcare discipline across the School and University using IPV educational interventions access to a valid and reliable measure.
Summer Scholarship Successes and Reflections: Ashleigh Delorenzo
Last year I was involved in the Summer Research Scholarship program with the Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice. My project was run in conjunction with Ambulance Victoria (AV), exploring the characteristics of fixed-wing air ambulance transports. Over the eight-week period I spent my time at AV headquarters working with the research team, as well as participating in research workshops at Monash. My project was then accepted for a poster presentation at the AeroMed Conference in New Zealand and the Student Paramedics Australasia Conference in Sydney, both of which I attended last year. More recently the manuscript was published in the Air Medical Journal.
Participating in the Summer Scholarship program has been an extremely positive learning experience. Working on this project enabled me to further my research skills, network with other professionals in the field and further my own personal development. I have gained experience in ethics applications, data cleaning and analysis as well as the publication process. The Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice provided a supportive environment and have continued to encourage me to build on my research skills beyond this project. This has been a great opportunity that I am extremely grateful to have experienced and I would encourage all students to become involved with this program at any opportunity.
DCEHPP receive new vehicles from RACV
Student paramedics were able to put their newly learnt skills to the test with two vehicles very generously donated by RACV. The two new vehicles include a Toyota hatchback and a Nissan people mover. Equipment Officer Jo O’Reilly says the new vehicles are a perfect fit as the van allows for multi casualty training exercises, and the hatchback allows extrication training through the back of the hatch, when the front of the vehicle has major collision damage. Simulated exercises that take the students out of the classroom are invaluable for learning and consolidation of skills, due to a more realistic environment, practising skills in real time and promoting reflection on practice.
Tuwharetoa, New Zealand CPR and AED Defibrillation Course
Ngati Tuwharetoa is the sixth largest Iwi (Marae tribe) in New Zealand, located in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand. Their passion and drive is to improve the health of Tuwharetoa people. The distance from ambulance stations too many of the Tuwharetoa Marae is substantial, meaning lengthy delays in an ambulance arriving especially for critically unwell patients. An identified need was to have automated defibrillators placed on all Marae or in a significant location within the community surrounding the Marae. Tuwharetoa asked Janet Curtis, Lecturer - International Projects with DCEHPP, Monash University to assist with the first set of courses.
A CPR and AED course was designed and piloted with the Ariki (Chief) office and several Marae to ensure content met the needs of the Iwi. The focus was on practical hands-on, not overwhelming the participants with lots of written information; going at a speed that left them feeling confident with their newly acquired skills and discussing cultural issues that may arise when doing CPR. Funding was received from Tuwharetoa Trust Board and Mercury Energy to purchase AED defibrillators and fund 10 courses, for members from 20 Marae.
The first official course was held on 29 March 2017 at the Waitetoko Marae. Participants came from Waitetoko, Poukura and Hikairo Marae. Janet was assisted by Teresa Chapman, a Tuwharetoa member. Cultural protocol was adhered to on the Marae with karakia (prayer) starting and finishing off the day. Lively discussion was held and addressed some important ethical and cultural issues. The age range of participants was diverse, with Kaumatua (Elders) also participating. Everyone got actively involved and showed great technique in CPR. Feedback from the participants indicated the outcomes were met with comments “I feel more confident now. Should someone need assistance, I feel I am able to help. Thanks so much”; “Cool! I found that I could understand (the material)”; “Wonderful trainers – the course was not regimented”; and “Very important matauranga (knowledge, wisdom, understanding, skill) that we learnt today “.
DCEHPP funding success
A/Prof Brett Williams from the Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice, and Dr Becky Batagol, and Dr Adiva Sifris from the Faculty of Law have been successful in obtaining $34,000 in funding to continue their research on the mental health of law students at Monash University. This funding will extend research from work undertaken in 2015 that found 259 undergraduate law students self-reporting alarmingly high levels of mental ill-health (depression, anxiety and stress) in comparison with students at other Australian law schools.
This was undertaken using the DASS-21 tool, a validated clinical and research tool to measure levels of depression, anxiety and stress. Results were alarming from the perspective of the mental health of law students at Monash in 2015. This new funding will now explore identifying strategies or interventions for redress/reduction in stress/anxiety/depression in law students.
DCEHPP grant success
A team from the Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice, Turning Point and the Department of General Practice were recently commissioned to complete a Rapid Review of the literature for the NSW Ministry of Health via the Sax Institute.
The team includes A/Prof Brett Williams, Prof Dan Lubman, Dr Kelly-Ann Bowles, Dr Samantha Chakraborty, and Ms Bronwyn Beovich. It is intended that the review will be used by the NSW Ministry of Health to identify and describe the components of best practice models of residential rehabilitation services for women. The information about such services will be used to develop tender specifications for new residential rehabilitation services that will be contracted with NGOs in 2017.
The review will also be used by the Alcohol and Other Drugs Branch to inform Ministry staff, LHD staff, and agencies providing residential rehabilitation services with the aim to improve knowledge about effective models of care, and inform possible approaches to evaluation of existing models, particularly where it is intended that services will be contracted. The completion of the review was worth $32,000 and is a great start for the planned Centre for Addiction Research & Recovery, which is to be based at the Peninsula Campus.
DCEHPP welcomes two new PhD students
DCEHPP recently welcomed our latest PhD students Mr Eihab Khasawneh from Jordan and Mr Justin Hunter from the United States. Amad holds an academic position at the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) and is our third JUST paramedic PhD scholar. Eihab’s PhD will focus on paramedics’ educational standards in Jordan and will be supervised by Assoc Prof Brett Williams and Dr Cam Gosling. Justin currently works as a paramedic in Norman Oklahoma. Justin’s PhD will address crisis resource management in paramedicine. He will be supervised by Assoc Prof Brett Williams and Dr Michael Porter. We wish Amad and Justin all the very best with their PhD studies at Monash.
Emergency responders descend on central
Frankston for mock training session
MORE than 75 emergency responders from multiple agencies descended on central Frankston recently for a mock training exercise. Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice students, teamed with Frankston Police, Bayside Shopping Centre, Frankston CFA and Frankston Council for the drill designed to test the organisations’ co-ordinated responses. A car fire simulation and two serious assaults were set up at Bayside Shopping Centre. The drill went very well and the teams worked well together. It is great to see relationships with external partners being built to maintain community safety.
Graduate Education Supervisor Development Grant success.
Kelly-Ann Bowles (DCEHPP), A/Prof Brett Williams (DCEHPP), Nathan Stam (DCEHPP), Prof Terry Haines (Physiotherapy), Dr Cylie Williams (Peninsula Health) and A/Prof Stephen Maloney (Physiotherapy) have recently been awarded $15,000 under the 2017 Supervisor Development Grant funding round. Their project will be looking at strengthening supervisory partnerships with our Health partners. The proposal outlines a measured approach to engaging external supervisors and developing skills commensurate with Monash University expectations. As Monash continues to develop relations with more industry partners, the approaches adopted by this team to close skills and expectations gaps between Monash supervisors and their industry colleagues will have the potential to be highly instructive for other academic units.
Grant Success
Congratulations to Linda Ross from the Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice who was recently successful in obtaining a University Office of Learning and Teaching (MU-OLT) Education Focused Support Grant. These grants are for education focused academics engaged in the Better Teaching Better Learning agenda who lead change and innovation across their faculty and/or more broadly across the university that will impact on other staff and on students and lead to improvement of teaching and learning at Monash. Linda has been awarded $7,500. Congratulations Linda!
Congratulations to Dr Abdulellah Al Thobaity
DECHPP would like to extend their congratulations to Dr Abdulellah Al Thobaity for his recent PhD graduation. In his doctoral research, Dr Al Thobaity explored the nursing core competencies and roles in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) under the supervision of Assoc Prof Virginia Plummer and Assoc Prof Brett Williams. We wish Dr Al Thobaity all the very best in his new nursing leadership position at Taif University, KSA, and hope to see him soon.
DCEHPP/Ambulance Victoria Research Planning Day
This week marked a significant point in DCEHPPs and Ambulance Victoria collaborative history together. The inaugural research planning day aimed to develop a significant number of research projects for DCEHPP and Ambulance Victoria, while also supporting clinicians in undertaking research or supervising other research students. DCEHPP were recently successful at securing a 2017 Supervisor Development Grant which aims to support the professional development of graduate research supervisors (including clinicians) and this day provided the first part of this process for clinicians working as paramedics. The day was enormously successful with over 80 research projects being developed under guidance from Assoc Prof Karen Smith and Dr Kelly Bowles.
DCEHPP Welcomes Brigadier General Meshref Ali Alamri
DCEHPP had the pleasure and honour of hosting Brigadier General Meshref Ali Alamri from the Ministry of Defence, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this week. Dr Mashref’s visit included a number of meetings with senior faculty staff; and a review of the postgraduate paramedic programs and research projects.
DCEHPP and Ambulance Victoria Curriculum Meeting
DCEHPP staff along with senior Ambulance Victoria staff attended the annual DCEHPP Postgraduate curriculum review; this also included a Delphi Method exploring if the current Intensive Care Paramedic Graduate Attributes are accurate for Ambulance Victoria and community needs. Results of this will ensure greater curricula coherence within the Intensive Care and Aeromedical programs.
Final presentation by PhD scholar Ala’a Oteir
DCEHPP bids farewell to Ala’a Oteir (pictured here with DCEHPPs Research Director, Dr Kelly Bowles) this week who heads back to his native homeland: Jordan.
Ala’a currently has his PhD titled: ‘The Pre-Hospital Management of Suspected Spinal Cord Injury and its association with patient outcomes’ currently under examination. We heard from Ala’a on his PhD journey, the number of journal publications forming his PhD, and what personal achievements arose throughout his PhD.
We look forward seeing Ala’a at the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) next month at the 2nd EMS Conference in Jordan, and also with future collaborations with DCEHPP.
Collaborative Interprofessional Health Care in Vietnam: 2016
This month a group of students from Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences are setting off on a new initiative exploring interdisciplinary health care in a completely different context. Twelve students will travel to Ho Chi Min City in Vietnam during November and December 2016 to meet local health professionals and Australian Aid workers.
This 4 week international student mobility program is a pilot project of undergraduate interprofessional practice and volunteering led by Alison Francis-Cracknell from the Physiotherapy department building upon Alison’s own healthcare volunteering experience in Vietnam in 2012/2013. It is a joint project of the Departments of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice and the School of Nursing and Midwifery, supported by Monash Abroad, the School of Primary Health Care and external engagement with Scope Global project management.
Students will have the opportunity to explore health and health education in Vietnam, meeting with staff and students from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City, visiting 4 hospitals and a rural community health service, undertake local language classes and meet with Australian health volunteers currently working in Vietnam. They will also work on group projects aimed at developing their international health care perspective, cultural capabilities and insight into the delivery of culturally appropriate healthcare services.
Ferno Sim Challenge from the 2016 Student Paramedics Conference in Sydney
A team of 4 Monash Paramedic students recently attended the 2016 Student Paramedics Australia Conference in October. The team of students were selected to represent Monash University and DCEHPP at a national paramedic simulation competition. Ten teams of future paramedics from Australian Universities competed in the 15-minute simulation. Each team was judged by a panel of experts on their scene control, team communication and patient management. The scenario was held in a university lecture theatre which had been converted into a mock movie theatre.
With the lights down, a Jason Statham action film blaring over the PA system, the team from Monash responded to movie-goer who was 'generally unwell'. The team consisted of a team leader, two responding paramedics, a reserve paramedic (Michael Hastie, James Baird, Ben Jenkins and Breanna Mackey respectively) and only one set of gear. Upon entering the scene, lights were turned on, the movie was paused, and patrons were moved from their seats so we could gain access to our patient. It was crucial that we treated all of the patrons with respect and communicated effectively with them. Our patient was displaying signs of a stroke, which was confirmed with further assessments. Overall, we performed well (coming 3rd overall) and really enjoyed the day and opportunity to practise our clinical skills in challenging circumstances. (Michael Hastie on behalf of the team).
DCEHPP Researcher makes the Channel Nine news
Dr Kelly-Ann Bowles, Director of Research at the Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice and her research team believe that a contributing factor to women’s back and neck pain is a poorly fitting bra. They are currently recruiting women for a world first study into the role of poorly fitting bras in the increasing prevalence of chronic shoulder pain in the community. Future research will also explore if shoulder pain exists among healthcare practitioners.
If you would like to know more about this research or if you would like to participate in the study please contact Kelly at kelly-ann.bowles@monash.edu
To see the full channel nine story please click here: https://twitter.com/9NewsMelb/status/788649811633242113
DCEHPP welcomes EMTs from GVK EMRI, India
DCEHPP recently welcomed our latest international guests: Mr Madhusudhan Gannamani and Mr Ravi Surla from GVK EMRI, India. Mr Gannamani and Mr Surla are currently EMT instructors for GVK EMRI in Hyderabad, India.
Their four-week visit has culminated from several collaborations between GVK EMRI, NTRI, The Alfred, Ambulance Victoria and Monash University. The aim of the visit is to explore paramedic education and training at Monash University and Ambulance Victoria and learn new systems of out-of-hospital care.
DCEHPP welcomes Dr Mohammad Alzahrani
DCEHPP recently hosted Dr Mohammed Alzahrani (Head, Emergency Medical Services) from Almaarefa Colleges, Saudi Arabia. During Dr Alzahrani's two-week visit he met key DCEHPP staff from our undergraduate and postgraduate teams, our current Middle Eastern PhD students, as well as senior Faculty staff from the Middle Eastern Projects Office and Ambulance Victoria. Other visits included the CAVE2 at Monash and Air Ambulance Victoria. This was an important visit supporting Monash's ongoing relationship with Almaarefa College and we look forward to future visits to Saudi Arabia in the near future.
Monash strengthens ties with Mohammed Bin Rashid University during UAE visit
Monash's Dr Nizar Farjou from the Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor accompanied the Victorian Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services, The Hon Jill Hennessy, on a visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last month.
They toured Dubai Healthcare City and visited the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU). Dr Farjou also took the opportunity to brief the Minister about Monash’s engagement with UAE and the other five Gulf Cooperation Council member states (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman).
The visit tied in with the recent launch of Victoria’s International Health Strategy 2016-2020 in which the Middle East and North Africa (MENA Region) are identified as a high growth market. The government seeks to increase its presence in these key international markets by providing support around several health industry segments and developing new jurisdictional partnerships.
Key outcomes of the visit were the identification of many avenues for collaboration between Monash University and MBRU, particularly in the fields of hospital management, trauma and injury, clinical simulation and paramedics.
“The Mohammed Bin Rashid University has redefined excellence in medical education, training and healthcare through progressive leadership and innovation. We are very excited about this partnership,” Dr Farjou said.
Thank a Paramedic day
This year the 28th July 2016 marked a very special day for the budding paramedic students of the Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice - it was ‘Thank a Paramedic Day 2016’. This day has not traditionally being recognised until recently when in 2015, Ambulance Victoria orchestrated a media campaign to improve the public’s ability to thank their local Ambo’s. The day sees the reconnection of many patients and their families with the paramedic crew members who worked so hard to assist them during their time of greatest need. It provides patients with a chance to say ‘Thank You’ in person for the life-saving treatment they have received. It also humanises just how big a difference the care and reassurance provided by paramedics makes to patients and their lives.
At Monash University Peninsula Campus we celebrated the day by thanking our hard working student paramedics with a rewarding chocolate during their lectures, to thank them for choosing a tough but noble profession.
DCEHPP welcomes new PhD student
DCEHPP recently welcomed our latest PhD student Mr Amad Alrawashdeh from Jordan. Amad holds an academic position at the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) and is our second JUST paramedic PhD scholar. Amad’s PhD will focus on paramedics’ management and care of acute coronary syndromes and is supervised by Dr Paul Jennings. We wish Amad all the very best with his PhD studies and time here in Melbourne Australia.
Paramedic Near-Peer Teachers 2016
Our 2016 DCEHPP final year near-peer teachers undertook their orientation and induction today. This session covered educational theory, advantages and disadvantages of NPT, teaching tips and alternate feedback models. The aim of the NPT team for this semester is to help assist teaching in tutorial and practical sessions for 2nd year trauma studies and 1st year foundation clinical studies. We are thrilled to have such a fine group of motivated individuals enrich our Bachelor program, while also improving their own knowledge, skills and communication skills at the same time.
Taiwan EMS Conference
(2016年緊急醫療救護處置與災難應變國際研討會)
Both Brett Williams and Ian Patrick were recently invited keynotes at the 2016 International Emergency Medical Practice and Disaster Response Conference, Taiwan 2016年緊急醫療救護處置與災難應變國際研討會. This was an excellent opportunity to share our experiences of the Australian paramedic education system and also the operations and service delivery models of Ambulance Victoria. Presentations were provided over three days at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Fire Rescue Training Centre, Hsinchu City, and Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City. We were also privileged to visit the New Taipei City Communications Centre and also observe a simulated building collapse and patient extrication at the Fire Rescue Training Centre, Hsinchu City.
DCEHPP New Postgraduate Training Centre taking shape
DCEHPPs new Postgraduate Training Centre is half way through its new renovations in building 3, Notting Hill Campus. Renovations initially commenced during January 2016 under the careful eye of Emma Stam (acting Head of Postgraduate Programs) and are expected to be fully completed by August 2016. The last phase of the project is the establishment of an immersive simulation area that is likely to shape future simulation education for paramedics. Stay tuned …
Mr David Page, PhD travel scholarship
DCEHPP was very pleased to sponsor David Page on a PhD travel scholarship to Melbourne, Australia during April 2016. The three week visit provided David to work on his PhD, meet key librarian and other academic staff and discuss opportunities of international exchange student programs between Australia and the United States. We hope to see David again soon and wish him well on his PhD journey.
DCEHPP host Fellows from King Saud University and Dubai Corporate Ambulance Service
DCEHPP was very honoured to sponsor and host four international guests during May-June 2016. We had the pleasure of hosting Dr Osama Samarkandi and Abdullah Mubarak from Prince Sultan College for Emergency Medical Services King Saud University (KSU), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and also Dr Omer Al Sakaf and Maryam Oafi from the Dubai Corporate Ambulance Service (DCAS), Dubai, UAE. During this visit DCEHPP was able share our insights into our education programs for both undergraduate and postgraduate studies, this included visits to Monash’s research facilities and visits to our industry partners Ambulance Victoria, The Alfred and Metropolitan Fire Brigade. We look forward to sharing our joint education and research experiences with KSU and DCAS in the near future.
Mr Ala’a Oteir recipient of DCEHPP Doctoral Scholar Award 2015
Mr Ala’a Oteir was the inaugural winner of the DCEHPP Doctoral Scholar Award in December 2015. This award was recently presented to Ala’a at the 1st EMS Conference held at the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) for his work on his PhD study (Examining best practice in spinal injuries in the out-of-hospital setting). This award was due recognition for Ala’s continued and sustained excellence and development not only as a PhD scholar, but also as a future EMS leader in Jordan and the Middle East. On behalf of DCEHPP, Monash University and his PhD supervisory team we wish Ala’a continued success in his PhD studies.
DCEHPP and Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) sign MoU
Following a very successful trip to JUST and attendance at the 1st EMS Conference held in Jordan (2-3rd December 2015) a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by the Dean of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University Professor Christina Mitchell and the Dean, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, JUST Professor Yousef S Khader. The MoU signifies clear intent between both Faculties (specifically paramedicine) in seeking joint education and scholarship collaborations. Key aims of the MoU include exchange of scholars, staff and students as well as joint course and curricula development.
Celebration of the first year of the EMR courses contract
On Tuesday 17th November a function was held at the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) Training Complex Burnley Street Richmond between the staff of the MFB Emergency Medical Services Department and the Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice.
Organised by Lisa Sarris the Monash EMR Course Co- coordinator, it allowed Brigade and Monash educational staff to gather collectively in a social atmosphere to celebrate the successful completion of the first year of the EMR courses contract.
Acting Commander Graeme O’Sullivan and SSO Alan Drury of the MFB, spoke of the long and successful relationship enjoyed between the MFB and Monash University.
Assoc Prof Brett Williams, Head of DCEHPP thanked all those involved from both organisations for their excellent work over the 2015 training period. He also outlined the potential for expansion into future co-joint research projects between the two organisations.
Experience with the use of ketamine as a pre-hospital analgesic in emergency aeromedical responses.
A retrospective cohort study
On Wednesday 28th October 2015, Damien Dambrosi from the Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice at Peninsula campus was awarded the prestigious RACV Sir Edmund Herring Memorial Scholarship to undertake research into emergency care of those who have sustained a traumatic injury.
Ambulance Victoria (AV) currently uses ketamine as a pre-hospital analgesic by the air ambulance service. Ketamine is administered to patients by Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) flight paramedics. Treatment is given according to clinical practice guidelines set out by AV’s medical advisory committee.
The study is being conducted in conjunction with AV to examine the efficacy of ketamine as an analgesic, and the incidence of side effects following its administration.
The current analgesics carried by Victorian paramedics are the opioids, morphine and fentanyl. These act by generally depressing the patient and “dulling their senses”. Ketamine works differently and induces a state of dissociation that is desirable for the multi-trauma patient with painful injuries. Dissociation is a desirable effect when dealing with patients with multiple fractures or significant burns. In the doses given for analgesia, ketamine does not depress the patient’s conscious state and preserves their breathing and airway reflexes. Maintenance of blood pressure is also desirable in the shocked trauma patient, and ketamine does not cause the side effects of hypotension like the opioids.
The general consensus is that ketamine works well, but there are anecdotes about combativeness, and emergence phenomena. The implementation of any treatment needs to be evidence based, and this retrospective cohort study will analyse the efficacy and adverse events associated with the use of ketamine as an analgesic by MICA Flight Paramedics on approximately 350 patients.
This study will examine the evidence and identify the incidence of any adverse events to give Victorian paramedics an evidence base to work from as ketamine is rolled out across the state.
Hands on Monash Indigenous Summer Camp
In December, the Yulendj Indigenous Engagement Unit hosted 40 Indigenous students from across Australia in the annual Hands on Monash Indigenous Summer Camp. The aim of the camp is to provide students from Year 10-12 with an insight into University life, whilst also focusing on team-building, motivation, meeting new people, confidence building and health and wellbeing.
As part of the program, a visit to the Peninsula Campus was on the agenda. Students stopped in at Nursing, Physiotherapy, Education and the Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice (DCEHPP). At DCEHPP, the students spent two hours learning how to take vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate, and other valuable life skills such as haemorrhage control, limb immobilisation and the application of cervical spine collars.
The visit concluded with ‘The Challenge' which aligned nicely with the aims of the camp, where the students participated in a team relay style race and demonstrated their newly learnt skills.
It was obvious on the day that the mentors, paramedic students and staff thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The feedback from the campers was "this year was the best yet!"
DCEHPP looks forward to the hosting another Hands on Monash Indigenous Summer Camp and building on the success of this last camp.
For more information contact jaime.wallis@monash.edu
Amelia Boynes, Max King, Eric Bromfield, Emma Windsor and Daniel Allwood.
Paramedics student featured in Herald Sun
With the help of paramedics, a horse trainer has cheated death after suffering a heart attack and all but dying on a racehorse galloping at 60km/h.
Eric Bromfield's heart stopped before he even hit the ground following cardiac arrest, only to then suffer head injuries as he crashed into the turf of Cranbourne track.
It was up to 20 minutes before paramedics were able to restart the 69-year-old's heart, including dangerous minutes with other racehorses thundering past in the dark.
Eric lay in a coma in Frankston hospital for 12 days, suffering three small bleeds in his brain before stunning his family by not only surviving, but waking without brain damage.
"I can't believe I'm here - neither can anybody here at the racecourse. I was lucky," claims Eric.
Last month, Eric was reunited with his saviours, including current third year Paramedics student Daniel Allwood who was out on placement at the time.
DCEHPP wins MFB contract
The Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice was successful in tendering an extended 3 year MFB Emergency Medical Responder contract. This is worth approximately $2 million over the 3 years with an option of extending the contract for another year.