Exercise Trojan Compass has brought a flurry of activity to RAAF Base Richmond, with aircraft movements and medical teams working at a heightened tempo.
The exercise is a collaboration between the RAAF and the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), aiming to enhance experience and knowledge while providing a platform for personnel to work side-by-side in realistic situations.
Among the arrivals was RNZAF 40 Squadron medic Leading Aircraftwoman Eloise Old, who was attached to the exercise to integrate with the RAAF health element and strengthen trans-Tasman partnerships.
From her arrival, the focus was clear: shared care, shared standards and a shared mission.
The RNZAF medic slotted into the RAAF medical system with ease. She said documentation systems differed slightly, as did equipment layouts, but clinical principles were the same. Within hours, the differences became minor details rather than obstacles.
"Working with RAAF medics and being able to compare their scope with our scope has been quite interesting," Leading Aircraftwoman Old said.
"There's a lot of similarities, but there's also a lot of differences."
She worked alongside RAAF counterpart Flight Sergeant Sharee Lewis from 2 Expeditionary Health Squadron.
"It's been a really great opportunity for interoperability between our two countries, seeing the differences and also just talking to each other, [and] helping each other out in different ways of treating patients," Flight Sergeant Lewis said.
Communication was deliberate and concise, ensuring clarity across teams. The collaboration was practical rather than symbolic, grounded in the understanding that future operations may require seamless integration together under real pressure.
With patient care in mind for both medics, their mission remains to innovate and improve their interoperability to be ready for any situation.
