PDF printable version of Australia Better Prepared to Treat Injured in a National Emergency(PDF 32 KB)
Joint Release
The Hon Nicola Roxon MP
Minister for Health and Ageing
The Hon Paul Lucas MP
Queensland
Deputy Premier
Minister for Health
The Hon Kon Vatskalis MLA
Northern Territory
Minister for Health
5 November 2009
An agreement has been signed between Princess Alexandra Hospital and the National Clinical Care and Trauma Response Centre, which will mean Australia is more prepared than ever to respond to a national incident that causes a significant number of injuries.
In times of such an emergency, the Princess Alexandra Hospital will be able to deploy up to 40 additional skilled clinical employees to the National Clinical Care and Trauma Response Centre. The centre is located at the Royal Darwin Hospital.
These health professionals will be available for deployment to the centre at short notice and will have the skills and training necessary to provide immediate support to help assess and treat a wide range of critical injuries requiring emergency, surgical and critical care.
Princess Alexandra Hospital will also provide a vital link to the centre at all times by sharing information, research, and best practice on national emergency health care.
Today’s historic agreement between the Queensland Government, the Northern Territory Government and the Australian Government will further strengthen Australia’s preparedness for a national incident involving a large number of injured people.
The National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre is Australia’s northern emergency coordination point during a national incident. Since it was established in 2005, the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre has been activated four times to assist injured Australians and citizens in the Pacific region.
The centre was established at the Royal Darwin Hospital by the Northern Territory Department of Health and Families with Australian Government funding. The Australian Government will provide $50 million until 2013 to maintain the centre’s ability to respond effectively in the event of a national incident.
The centre works closely with the Australian Government, the Australian Defence Force, the Northern Territory Government, and other government and non-government agencies.
For all other enquiries, contact Ms Roxon's office (02) 6277 7220
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