Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT)

The Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) SA is a volunteer medical capability which can be deployed to an impacted area/mass casualty incident (MCI) to supplement the local emergency response both nationally and internationally when services are overwhelmed. Team members are trained to provide skilled assistance during the crisis and to establish ongoing sustainable solutions for local communities where possible.

AUSMAT includes doctors, nurses, paramedics and non-medical personnel such as fire-fighters and logisticians. AUSMAT are fully prepared to be self sufficient for a period of up to two weeks.

AUSMAT Code of Conduct

‘There is an agreed code of conduct that all members who deploy under the AUSMAT banner are required to conform to. In principle, an AUSMAT deployment is about supporting the local community by providing a sustainable ongoing solution when AUSMAT withdraws.

Key elements include:

  • respect for the roles and views of the locals
  • clearly identified objective of being there to support and teach, not to take over
  • an operational philosophy that does not impose views and plans where possible
  • an ongoing awareness of the issues around long-term sustainability of the situation after support is withdrawn
  • a principle of empowering the local people to be part of the immediate solution as well as the long-term management
  • a recognition of the importance of maintaining the AUSMAT members’ own physical and psychological health and well-being at all times.

Vision: Think action, act with care and thought.

Mission: To provide rapid, efficient, farsighted support within the broader area of health to communities in need.

Training

Each suitable volunteer will be trained and prepared for possible deployments within South Australia, Australia or overseas.  This involves humanitarian and security training which is incorporated in a 3 day Team Member course which also involves an overnight immersion phase simulating a deployment.

More specialised training is available at the National Critical Care and Trauma Centre in Darwin.  These include:

  • Team Leader Needs Assessment Courses
  • Surgical and Anaesthetist Courses
  • Logistics Courses.

Following a National AUSMAT HR review in 2016 specific skill sets were identified as a priority for recruitment. Please contact the Disaster Management Branch for further information.

Contact

AUSMAT
Disaster Management Branch
Department for Health and Wellbeing

EmailHealthAUSMAT@sa.gov.au
Telephone: (08) 7425 5932, during business hours
Address: Citi Centre Building, 11-13 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, South Australia