Mastering the essentials

This summit serves as a dynamic platform for critical care clinicians and those with an interest in critical care practice to expand their knowledge, connect across disciplines, and explore pathways into the field. Through insightful education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and engaging discussions, attendees will enhance their skills and contribute to the future of critical care.

Hyatt Place Event Centre Melbourne Essendon Fields

15 – 16 May 2025

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Thursday 15 May 2025
Friday 16 May 2025

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Time (AEST)	(Please note: This schedule is subject to change).
12:00 - 13:00	Registration & Welcome Lunch
13:00 - 14:00	Simulation Simulation This simulation will present a high-fidelity critical care scenario, immersing participants in a realistic clinical environment. Following the simulation, hands-on workshops will break down key skills, providing practical, in-depth training
15:00 - 17:00	Workshops Workshops Each delegate will attend all five workshops. Attendees have 30 minutes per workshop station. 1) eFAST: Explore the extended Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (eFAST) to identify pneumothorax, hemoperitoneum, and cardiac tamponade in the prehospital setting. Develop your ultrasound skills for faster, more accurate trauma decision-making. 2) SALAD: Learn the SALAD (Suction-Assisted Laryngoscopy and Airway Decontamination) technique to manage massive airway contamination and optimize intubation success in high-risk patients. Hands-on practice will reinforce suction skills and crisis airway management strategies. 3) Difficult airway and front of neck access: When the airway is unmanageable, front of neck access is the last lifeline. This hands-on workshop will cover decision-making, technique, and crisis drills for surgical airway procedures in critical scenarios, as well as laryngoscopic techniques you can use when you encounter a difficult airway 4) Finger thoracostomy: This workshop will focus on the indications, technique, and troubleshooting of finger thoracostomy in prehospital trauma care. 5) Arterial lines and vascular access: Explore the indications, techniques, and troubleshooting of arterial lines and advanced vascular access in prehospital and retrieval settings. Practical sessions will focus on improving first-pass success and reducing complications. Afternoon tea will be served at 14:30 - 15:00 EFAST SALAD Airway Difficult airway and front of neck access Finger Thoracostomy Arterial Lines and advanced vascular access Workshops will be led by a diverse team of critical care educators and clinicians. Facilitators will be announced soon.
17:00 - 18:30	Helicopter Base Tour - RSVP ONLY Helicopter Base Tour - RSVP ONLY Between the workshops and conference dinner, 25 delegates will have the opportunity to do a tour of the helicopter base. Please note this opportunity is capped and RSVP when purchasing tickets is essential.
19:00 - 22:00	Conference Dinner Conference Dinner During the conference dinner, Kaitlyn will explore strategies for managing and sustaining longevity in a critical care career. She will then interview two paramedics—one a newly qualified critical care paramedic and the other an experienced practitioner—discussing their career journeys and insights along the way. More information coming soon. Please note: Conference dinner is an additional ticket Dinner keynote - Kaitlyn Harrington

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Time (AEST)	(Please note: This schedule is subject to change).
07:30 - 08:00	Arrival Tea and Coffee
08:00 - 08:30	Conference Open Conference MC: Dr Ben Meadley, Director, Paramedicine Ambulance Victoria
08:30 - 10:00	Session 1: Circulation and perfusion Session 1: Circulation and perfusion Prehospital blood and coagulation Session Focus: Circulation – perfusion support of the critically unwell patient in the prehospital setting (more info coming soon) Prehospital perfusion support Session Focus: Circulation – perfusion support of the critically unwell patient in the prehospital setting (more info coming soon) Prehospital blood and coagulation Presented by: Dr Ben Meadley, Director, Paramedicine Ambulance Victoria Prehospital perfusion support Presented by: Assoc Prof/Dr Gayle Christie Cardiogenic shock – identification and intervention Presenter announced soon
10:00 - 10:30	Circulation and perfusion - Interactive panel discussion Circulation and perfusion - Interactive panel discussion Actionable insights, skills, and strategies that you can apply on your very next shift Dr Ben Meadley, Director, Paramedicine Ambulance Victoria Assoc Prof/Dr Gayle Christie, Medical Director, St John Ambulance WA
10:30 - 10:45	Morning Tea
10:45 - 11:45	Session 2: Airway Session 2: Airway Paediatric prehospital airway management Session Focus: Paediatric airway and decision making – why paediatric RSI isn’t like adult RSI. (more info coming soon) Paediatric prehospital airway management Presented by: Elliot Long, RCH Surgical Airway: Failure or success Presenter announced soon
11:45 - 12:15	Airway - Interactive panel discussion Airway - Interactive panel discussion Actionable insights, skills, and strategies that you can apply on your very next shift Elliot Long, RCH
12:15 - 13:00	Lunch
13:30 - 14:30	Keynote Presentation - Mission Critical Teams Harry Moffitt, Psychologist and former SAS Team Commander. Managing Director, Stotan Group. Director, Mission Critical Team Institute. Founder and Architect, SAS in-service, Wanderers Education Program
14:30 - 15:00	Career progression Career progression Career progression – how I got from being a student, to flying around Victoria (more information coming soon) Sarah Hirons, MICA Flight Paramedic, Ambulance Victoria
15:00 - 15:15	Afternoon Tea
15:15 - 16:15	Session 3: Ventilation Session 3: Ventilation ECMO – Ventilation without the lungs Veno-Venous Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VV-ECMO) is a rescue therapy for refractory respiratory failure. It is used when patients have failed to respond to other treatments such as lung protective ventilation and prone positioning. In the post-COVID era it is an increasingly common therapy. Critical Care Paramedics may be involved in the interhospital transport of patients on VV-ECMO as part of a critical care retrieval team. This session will give an overview of respiratory failure and VV-ECMO and give critical care paramedics some practical tips for managing common problems that may be encountered during the interhospital transport of patients on VV-ECMO. ECMO – Ventilation without the lungs Presented by: Assoc. Prof. David Anderson, Medical Director, Ambulance Victoria; Adjunct Associate Professor, Monash University; Intensivist, Alfred Health Ventilation Masterclass Presented by: Nick Roder, MICA flight paramedic educator
16:15 - 16:45	Super Panel Super Panel During the Super Panel, we will be joined by the conference presenters to discuss the future of ABCs in critical care—exploring the key challenges and advancements needed to ensure effective patient management in the years ahead. Dr Ben Meadley, Director, Paramedicine Ambulance Victoria Assoc Prof/Dr Gayle Christie, Medical Director, St John Ambulance WA Assoc. Prof. David Anderson, Medical Director, Ambulance Victoria; Adjunct Associate Professor, Monash University; Intensivist, Alfred Health Sarah Hirons, MICA Flight Paramedic, Ambulance Victoria
16:45 - 17:00	College Update & Conference Close