January 1 was not just the start of a new year, it was also the establishment of 94 Wing and 294 Squadron, formally known as Health Services Wing (HSW) and Health Operational Conversion Unit (HOCU) respectively.
The renaming aligns 94 Wing with all air command wings to conform to numerical designations, focusing on its operational role to provide agile health effects in support of airbases, flying operations, aeromedical evacuation and delivery of the global aeromedical evacuation system.
HSW was established in 2001, with Group Captain (now Air Commodore) Amanda Dines as the inaugural Officer Commanding HSW. This was the first time that all Air Force health assets were bought under centralised command and control, with the intent of better supporting and organising the capability across the force.
The previous Officer Commanding HSW (2023-2025) Group Captain John Rollo said the wing went through further changes in 2009, 2013 and now, to cement their role as Air Force's deployed aeromedical experts and providers of healthcare when other aviators are away from home.
"I know as the wing continues into 94 Wing, it will grow and develop under its new nomenclature. Though the people and mission do not change, 94 Wing will provide excellence in care to those who need it, whenever and wherever Air Force and the ADF ask it of us," Group Captain Rollo said.
"We will go with you, we will keep the fighting force available and we will bring you home."
'This year sees the most significant upgrade to health equipment in a generation, as 94 Wing takes receipt of Joint Project 2060 (JP2060) Phase 3 - Health Care Capability, which will enable cutting-edge provision of care in the field and in the air.'
Over the past 25 years, HSW has been involved in significant events such as Operation Slipper, multiple operations in Timor Leste, peacekeeping missions around the world and several operations in support of civilian, humanitarian and disaster relief. These operations include relief to Pakistan following the devastating earthquake of 2005, the evacuation of civilians from Afghanistan and the transportation of casualties from the White Island disaster in New Zealand.
The current Officer Commanding 94 Wing Group Captain Toby Leslie said the wing's mission is effectively the same, but the ability to provide the care and ways in which 94 Wing achieve their mission is certainly evolving.
"This year sees the most significant upgrade to health equipment in a generation, as 94 Wing takes receipt of Joint Project 2060 (JP2060) Phase 3 - Health Care Capability, which will enable cutting-edge provision of care in the field and in the air," Group Captain Leslie said.
"This project provides us with state-of-the-art deployable health equipment and infrastructure.
"This is a steep change for our capabilities, which we are now shaping to ensure that we are agile in response, scalable in effect and capable in delivery."
By the same token, the newly named 294 Squadron is crucial to training clinically combat-ready Air Force health personnel, using realistic simulated patients and, at times, simulated hostile civilians to ensure personnel are ready to respond to anything they may encounter.
'We will go with you, we will keep the fighting force available and we will bring you home.'
Commanding Officer 294 Squadron Wing Commander Jason Lynam said the key professional initial employment training and conversion courses run by 294 Squadron included:
- aeromedical evacuation and military critical care aeromedical evacuation team
- operational health support
- trauma nursing
- early management of severe trauma
- Blue Room virtual reality environment supporting AE training and tactical care of the combat casualty and high acuity
- high consequence clinical courses.
"HOCU was formed on April 1, 2009, and was responsible for clinical and operational training for health services personnel as the single centre of excellence for the delivery of health training for Air Force," Wing Commander Lynam said.
"In addition to the delivery of training, HOCU also had responsibility for the provision of technical oversight and standardisation of health training.
"Now as 294 Squadron, we will continue to provide this critical training, while enhancing the training we provide by using our specialist medical reserve workforce to evaluate and develop in-depth, intense, lifesaving courses to ensure health personnel are as prepared as possible to save lives with the equipment ADF have."
Group Captains Rollo and Leslie agreed the ability of 94 Wing to deploy rapidly and with significant lifesaving effect is what makes it unique in the ADF structure.
"Our environmental health teams will be one of the first on the ground to protect the force and the aviation medical specialists will keep the flying force airborne," they said.
"Whether the medical care is delivered by a medic with the Agile Medical Suite or a surgical team supported by air mobile theatre staff, pathology labs, radiology, ICU beds, an ED unit, primary health care, physios, dentists and/or mental health practitioners, we will bring what is needed, wherever and whenever we are needed."
