Ambulance Victoria paramedics are better prepared to rescue the injured or stranded during water-based emergencies, after participating in an intensive joint training exercise alongside Babcock Australasia (Babcock) helicopter crews.
Water rescues and winch retrievals formed part of a series of high-pressure aerial tests during the seven-day skills assessment, which took place in Port Phillip Bay and off the coast of Port Fairy last month.
More than 14 Babcock pilots, 20 air crew officers (ACO) and five ACO instructors from four bases across the state supported the training of Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) flight paramedics, as the crews practiced water-based rescue techniques under simulated conditions.
The annual training, led by Air Ambulance Victoria, is designed to ensure the highest level of preparedness for recues in the physically and technically demanding ocean environment. Over 40 MICA flight paramedics re-validated their water winching qualifications during the activity.
Babcock is closely integrated with Air Ambulance Victoria, and the multi-day exercise serves as an important opportunity to refine the high level of crew coordination and teamwork required to deliver such a specialised service.
Babcock supplied the aircraft, training equipment, and flight crews for the multi-day exercise. Also supporting the activity were community partners Australian Volunteer Coast Guard – St Kilda, Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad, Port Fairy Marine Rescue and Sandringham Yacht Club who generously donated their time and resources to enhance Victoria’s maritime rescue capability.
Air Ambulance Victoria conducts dozens of winch and numerous water-based rescues each year, ranging from individuals swept out to sea to patient retrievals from vessels many nautical miles off the coast.
As part of its Helicopter Emergency Medical Services across Australia, Babcock is committed to enhancing aviation safety and operational excellence. In addition to regular training exercises, it also puts its ACOs through rigorous simulator training alongside its team of pilots.
Babcock Australasia CEO Andrew Cridland said: “One of the unique things about our partnership with Ambulance Victoria is the incredibly strong connection between our crews and their paramedics. We don’t work as separate entities, we’re one team. We are fully integrated to the point where on the job, there is really no distinction between the two. Their missions are our missions. By supporting this specialised training in remote or hard-to-reach locations where a traditional landing may not be feasible, we are helping to ensure Ambulance Victoria paramedics can respond effectively and safely in a real-life emergency situation.”
Air Ambulance Victoria Manager Air Operations Brad Martin said: “Babcock plays an integral part in ensuring our MICA flight paramedics can conduct rescues in open water environments. Open water rescue is an essential part of the job for Air Ambulance Victoria, and our success relies on each member of the crew performing their role to the highest level. The annual winch training activity is critical to maintaining both individual and team skills.”
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