The Aeromedical Rescue & Retrieval Podcast is brought to you by the Aeromedical Society of Australasia! Each episode we speak to those involved in the industry, hear their inspirational stories, and perhaps learn some lessons along the way. If you’d like to get in touch please drop us an email and let us know what you think! podcast@aeromedsocaustralasia.org https://www.aeromedsocaustralasia.org/
During this episode Cam and I introduce the 'pause point'! The 'Pause Point', or known in other industries as the 'Strategic Pause' or 'Sanity Check', refers to a deliberate pause in the mission or task (often presented as a question) to assess any number of considerations before proceeding, for example; "is this the safest and best option?"...."Can anyone think of anything we have missed?".... "does anyone have any questions, comments or concerns before we do what we are about to do?"...
11 Jan 2026
Ep 14 - Dr Barry Kirby AO & Nurse Kila Dobo Koupere. Saving mothers and babies in remote PNG.
Few people embark on mid-life career changes as dramatic and inspiring as Dr Barry Kirby AO. Barry was a 40-year-old carpenter working in Papua New Guinea (PNG) when he witnessed the devastating preventable death of a woman who was outcast from her village. He decided there and then that PNG needed more doctors than carpenters; that he needed to study medicine; and return as a rural doctor in PNG. It took 2 degree’s and 12 years and he kept his word. Mothers having difficulty in childbirth is...
4 Dec 2024
Ep 14 - Sam Immens, Critical Care Paramedic, Nurse, innovator and ASA Committee Member
Critical care paramedic Sam Immens shares his global clinical adventures, from UK specialist nursing to pre-hospital aeromedical rescue, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in this high-stakes field.
6 Jun 2024
Ep 13 - Simon Cradock, Team Leader Training and Standards Special Operations
On this episode Paramedic Team Leader Simon Cradock discussess his obvious passion for special operations in particular the Road Crash Rescue space. Simon has been a pioneer in South Australia's Road Crash Rescue scene forming the first interservice South Australian team to compete in the Australasian Rescue Organisations Road Crash Rescue competition, and win it!
Simon discusses the importance of managing competing priorities between agencies and how a brief chat with a mate lead to the standardisation of road crash rescue proceedures across multiple agencies.
6 Jun 2024
Ep 12 - Simon Cradock, Team Leader Training and Standards Special Operations
On this episode Paramedic Team Leader Simon Cradock discussess his obvious passion for special operations in particular the Road Crash Rescue space. Simon has been a pioneer in South Australia's Road Crash Rescue scene forming the first interservice South Australian team to compete in the Australasian Rescue Organisations Road Crash Rescue competition, and win it! Simon discusses the importance of managing competing priorities between agencies and how a brief chat with a mate lea...
12 Feb 2024
Ep12 - Diane Tremain MBA, General Manager, Mental Health Pioneer.
On this episode Cam and James chat with Diane Tremain. Diane wears many hats! As we find out, Diane is the General Manager of the ACE Training Centre in Bankstown NSW Australia, HEMS contract manager, marketing guru, and one of the most important roles having pioneered the pyscological support program PRIME supporting Pilots and Aircrew Officers in managing the mental impacts of working in HEMS.
16 Dec 2023
Ep 11 - Adrian Wilson - HEMS Pilot, Afghanistan Veteran, Business owner and innovator.
On this episode Cam and I speak with Adrian Wilson. Adrian has a career a mile long spanning Airforce, Army, Aeroplanes, Helicopters, Air Vehicle Operator (Drone Pilot), and more recently a HEMS Helicopter Pilot and business owner.
We discuss how Adrian came to be where he is today, the significant challenges and setbacks along the way, his experience as a HEMS Pilot, and what made him want to explore the potential for finding efficiencies in the industry yet looking at it through the lens of an airline company.
25 Sept 2023
Ep 10 - Steve Lobley ASM, Paramedic, Zone Manager.
On this episode we chat with Paramedic and Zone Manager Steve Lobley. Steve has an interesting history having been introduced to aeromedicine after becoming a patient himself at the age of 17 whilst going through the application process to join NSW Ambulance as a paramedic.
It would be this life changing incident that would shape Steve for years to come. Most notably his 'bedside manner' after the power of reassurance and professionalism stood by him after that day. In his over 30 year Ambulance career there isn't much Steve hasn't done, from training and education to special casualty access and becoming a helicopter paramedic!
15 Mar 2023
Ep9 - Tim Frankel - HEMS Pilot, Military Veteran, Senior Contract Manager.
On this episode Cam and James chat with Tim Frankel. Tim was born in the UK, grew up in a hotel in Ethiopia, joined the UK Military deploying to Northern Island before becoming a helicopter pilot with service in Kosovo, and later in East Timor with the Australian Army. Tim is now the Senior Contract Pilot for the Toll Ambulance Rescue Helicopters based in NSW and ACT, Australia. Tim is shortly moving into his new role as Deputy Head of Flight Operations for Toll Helicopters.
Tim talks of his time in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, and East Timor. He shares some of the challenges and innovations that he has seen in his 8 years as a HEMS pilot and what the future of HEMS looks like.
26 Jan 2023
Ep8 - Dr Chris Denny - HEMS Medical Director, Emergency Specialist, Astronaut Candidate
On this episode Cam and the ASAs past president David Waters, interview Doctor Christ Denny. Chris is the Medical Director for the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, Senior Medical Officer in Emergency Medicine Auckland City, Honorary Senior Lecturer The University if Auckland, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at The University of Toronto, and a former Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Candidate. To name a few things!
During this episode Cam and David chat with Chris about his experiences in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Chris delves into how he become who he is today, some of the challenges he has experienced along the way, and where he sees the future of AeroMedicine into the future.
24 Dec 2022
Ep7 - Christmas Wrap Up!
On this brief episode Cam and James wrap up the year and briefly introduce what’s coming in the new year!
13 Nov 2022
Ep6 - Flight Nursing, remote critical care at 25,000ft from anywhere!
On this episode we speak with Flight Nursing Australia (FNA) President Colleen Reid, the Aeromedical Society of Australasia (ASA) President Diane Fuller, Flight Nurse and secretary of FNA Judi Shields, and award recipient Flight Nurse Margaret Tabone.
Over the course of the episode our flight nurses discuss what it was like in the early days of remote medicine and flight nursing compare with our modern day systems, procedures and training. As well as touching on the inception of both the FNA and ASA.
21 Oct 2022
Ep5 - The Pause Point!
During this episode Cam and I introduce the 'pause point'!
The 'Pause Point', or known in other industries as the 'Strategic Pause' or 'Sanity Check', refers to a deliberate pause in the mission or task (often presented as a question) to assess any number of considerations before proceeding, for example; "is this the safest and best option?"...."Can anyone think of anything we have missed?".... "does anyone have any questions, comments or concerns before we do what we are about to do?" etc etc.
Cam and I go on to take a moment to conduct our own 'pause point' to reflect and review the podcast so far and break down the key moments of the last 4 episode before we continue on our podcast mission!
"Are we achieving what the Aeromedical Society have set out to do?" "What can we improve?" and "where to from here?!"
5 Oct 2022
Ep4 - Pat Crowe - Human Factors Instructor, Senior Aircrew Officer, Ex Police Officer
On episode 4 Cam and I chat with Pat Crowe. Pat is a veteran police officer having served as a general duties police office before moving into the police air wing conducting search and rescue and aerial law enforcement, after what would be a near death confrontation with a criminal whilst on patrol. Pat then found himself on an ambulance helicopter eventually becoming the senior contract aircrew officer responsible for the management of aircrew officers across four bases and six helicopters.
Pat is now a human factors instructor at the ACE Training Centre in Bankstown Australia where he develops and delivers training based on his experience in both policing and aviation. During this episode we speak about some of his challenges along the way, and the future of human factors in the aeromedical setting.
10 Sept 2022
Ep3 - Dr Natalie May - Sydney HEMS Prehospital, Retrieval, and Paediatric Specialist
On episode 3 we speak with keynote speaker, Dr. Natalie May at the AeroMed 22 conference in Brisbane! We talk about her development of training for aircrew in communicating with family members at a prehospital scene, and her approach to maintaining currency and competence in a number of disciplines and the challenges of moving from a well lit and well stoked emergency department, to the middle of the bush!
Dr. Natalie May trained in Emergency Medicine and Paediatric EM in the UK before moving to Sydney where she now works half time as a Specialist in Prehospital and Retrieval Medicine with Sydney HEMS, quarter time in Emergency Medicine at St George Hospital in South East Sydney and occasionally in both Neonatal and Pediatric Transport (NETS) and the Trauma service at Royal North Shore Hospital.
She is a medical education enthusiast and has been an editor and regular contributor to the St Emlyn's blog and podcast since 2012. She is proud to be part of the faculty of Resuscitology, a multidisciplinary course for keen resuscitationists.
She loves running, tea and karaoke; she lives with her husband and toddler near one of Sydney's beautiful beaches.
13 Jul 2022
Ep2 - James Koens - Helicopter Aircrew Officer, Pilot, Firefighter.
On this episode the tables are turned! Episode 1's guest and co-host Cameron Edgar chats with co-host James Koens about his history, the complexities of maintaining a training and assessment system through challenging times, and one of the most challenging rescues he has conducted to date.
James has an extensive background in government and defence. After 15 years service with the Australian Army, James is now a Training and Checking Aircrew Officer on an Ambulance Rescue Helicopter based in NSW, Australia. James is also a qualified helicopter and aeroplane pilot and an experienced volunteer firefighter. More notably he deployed to Canada in 2021 as an Operations Chief and Incident Commander during a devastating wildfire season.
James opens up about the pathways into becoming an Aircrew Officer and provides advice on those looking to break into the world of helicopter and search and rescue.
27 May 2022
Ep1 - Cam Edgar - Co-Host, Paramedic, and Director of Helicopter Operations
Welcome to the first episode of the Aeromedical Rescue & Retrieval Podcast!
Brought to you by the Aeromedical Society of Australasia (ASA)
On this episode I speak with Chief Superintendent Cameron Edgar. Cam has been a paramedic for almost 30 years working in just about every field such as media officer, special operations team instructor, helicopter paramedic, and ASA Committee member. Cam is now the Director of Helicopter Operations for Australia’s largest HEMS operation.
Cam speaks about some of the challenges he has faced over the past years of fires, floods, and a pandemic, and his experience on one of the most challenging helicopter and technical rope rescue missions he has ever encountered.
During the episode we also talk about our involvement with the Aeromedical Society of Australasia and the future of the industry.
If you’d like to send us a question or comment please email us and we’ll look to answer in the next episode. podcast@aeromedsocaustralasia.org
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