Clinical safety attributes and behaviours

This session dives into what really happens to our thinking and behaviour when the pressure hits in the prehospital environment. In a relaxed, discussion-based format, we’ll explore:

• How high-stress situations can trigger risky behaviours — and how to spot the warning signs early
• The thought patterns that show up under pressure (the good, the bad, and the unhelpful)
• Practical ways to recognise when these behaviours start to creep in — before they impact care
• The strengths and attributes that actually protect us in clinical stress
• How effective team dynamics in high-risk job scenes can make all the difference
• Strategies to reduce behavioural risk through conversation, insight and self-awareness

It’s not a lecture — it’s a space to reflect, and walk away with tools you can actually apply on road.

Biography: Shaun Whitmore

Shaun Whitmore is an Intensive Care Flight Paramedic with Air Ambulance Victoria. He has work in frontline health since 1986 in various role including Div 1 Nursing, Advanced Life Support Paramedicine, Intensive Care Paramedicine/Flight Paramedicine, Paramedic Education locally and in Borneo, PNG, Malaysia and Vanuatu, Clinical Support, Disaster deployments both local and Overseas, Urban Search and Rescue and Remote Area/Wilderness Medicine. He has conducted over 2500 HEMS retrievals in Primary, Secondary and Search and Rescue responses. His particular interests as a direct result of these experiences include management of cognitive load and team formation in acute small team/austere/low resource environments, along with strategies to minimise clinical error to improve patient and Paramedic Safety.