NSW Ambulance helicopter paramedics and doctors are benefiting from a new state of the art training facility designed for complex rescues.
The new Rescue Access Procedural Training Reinforcement (RAPTR) room allows for procedural training of critical care helicopter paramedics, doctors, aircrew officers, and specialists in rescue-access procedures, including roping and winching operations.
The NSW Ambulance rescue helicopter fleet is vital to ensure the safety of the community, with NSW Ambulance aeromedical teams completing more than 5,000 helicopter missions last year. Each year the NSW Ambulance aeromedical teams undergo thousands of hours of training to maintain their clinical, aviation and access skills.
Located at the Aeromedical Crewing Excellence (ACE) Training Centre at Bankstown Airport, the RAPTR room comprises a winch training simulator, the Mixed Augmented Virtual Reality (MAV) trainer, and a vertical access training wall.
The winch training simulator features a realistic rescue helicopter cabin equipped with a personnel winch that is mounted eight metres above the ground, enabling a wide range training scenarios to be conducted.
The MAV trainer is a virtual simulator for crew to practise complex mission scenarios, created in a collaborative research partnership with the University of NSW. It incorporates mixed-reality technology to create fully immersive training experiences.
The multi-level climbing-abseiling wall, which has an overhang for vertical access training, can also be configured to undertake restricted space access training.
These new features are in addition to the existing training capabilities at ACE, including an aquatic rescue theatre that allows helicopter paramedics to train for in-water winch rescues in a variety of real-life conditions, and all helicopter crew members to undertake underwater escape training.
Critical care helicopter paramedics are among the most highly skilled paramedics in NSW. Across the state there are more than 70 critical care paramedics, operating out of helicopter bases in Bankstown, Newcastle, Tamworth, Lismore, Wollongong, Orange, and Sydney.
In addition to the regular medical and rescue training at the ACE Training Centre in Bankstown, helicopter paramedics also regularly conduct winching drills from the rescue helicopter off the NSW coast, as well as roping exercises to practice abseiling down to patients to provide clinical care in hard-to-reach and remote areas.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
"The work happening inside this centre is extraordinary. Our aeromedical teams train in some of the most advanced rescue environments in the country, ensuring they're ready to respond when people need them.
"Training like this means our helicopter paramedics, doctors and aircrew can continue delivering lifesaving care in the toughest and most unpredictable conditions across NSW.
"Every enhancement to this facility strengthens our emergency response capability and gives communities confidence that our highly skilled clinicians are prepared for any scenario, anywhere in the state."
Quotes attributable to NSW Ambulance Interim Chief Executive Clare Beech:
"The complexity of the missions our aeromedical crews undertake demands training that is as close to real life as possible. Facilities like the RAPTR room give our teams the chance to rehearse high-risk procedures in a safe, controlled environment.
"Our helicopter paramedics and medical teams are among the best in the world, and that's because they train relentlessly. These new capabilities ensure they can continue to meet the growing needs of communities across NSW.
"Whether it's a remote rescue, a coastal winch, or a time-critical medical emergency, our crews are equipped with the skills, experience, and technology to deliver expert clinical care before a patient reaches hospital."
Quotes attributable to ACE Training Centre General Manager Diane Tremain:
"We are proud to partner with NSW Ambulance to deliver training environments that mirror the real-world challenges faced by aeromedical crews. This investment ensures every mission is supported by the highest standards of safety and capability.
"This new simulation technology allows aircrew and medical teams to practise complex scenarios repeatedly, building confidence and precision.
"Our collaboration with NSW Ambulance continues to innovate the aeromedical training capability, and we're committed to supporting the teams who perform these critical missions every day."
