Rural Emergency Skills Training (REST)

How would you cope with an emergency situation in your isolated community without the support of other doctors, paramedics, or nearby emergency department?

It is a sobering realisation that you and your remote health team are 'it' for 2 to 3 hours until an aero medical evacuation can be arranged. What training would enable you to feel comfortable, or not quite as terrified in an emergency?

The Rural Emergency Skills Training (REST) Course has been specifically designed to prepare remote GPS for this kind of event. Refreshing old and introducing new and practical skills, in basic and advanced life support.

The Course was developed by Dr David Campbell of the Victorian Rural Workforce Agency to be run by GPs for GPs. The ratio of one trainer to three participants and mentoring arrangements during the course, through a series of structured teaching sessions, skill stations and actual scenarios enhance and promote a supportive adult learning environment.

This Course is a highly respected program, which has revealed great benefits to emergency medicine here in Australia and overseas - which was evident when the NT Health Workforce (NTHW) were invited to educate rural and remote communities in South Africa in 2009, resulting to further interest from other countries. NTHW can boast of having one of the first Clinical Medical Advisors as an Instructor, training other GPs nationally and internationally, encouraging more Principle Instructors.

NTHW is self sufficient in all materials and equipment to significantly enhance learning by extensive use of various ALS manikins, airway, defibrillator and IV equipment.

Conclusion of the REST course will attract RACGP and FACRRM CPD Points to supplement continuing professional development.

NT Health Workforce coordinates three courses per year due to the popularity and valuable benefits to GPs across the Territory.