Hunter New England Simulation Centre

Hunter New England Simulation Centre delivers training to healthcare professionals and is one of the longest running simulation centres in Australia. 

A student participating in a simulation activity

What is health simulation?

Healthcare simulation (or clinical simulation) creates a safe and controlled environment for healthcare workers to:

  • trial run clinical scenarios
  • practice needed skills
  • gain confidence without the fear of harming or delaying diagnosis and treatment to patients.

Clinical simulations use tools, devices and environments that mirror real clinical care scenarios and help to improve healthcare and patient outcomes. 

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About our Simulation Centre

Hunter New England Simulation Centre (the Centre) is a world-class interprofessional, multi-skilled educational facility that delivers simulation-based team training to thousands of healthcare professionals every year. 

Our state-of-the-art-facility is one of Australia's longest running simulation centres. 

The Centre offers a range of training programs to address clinical and non-clinical challenges with the overall aim of enhancing:

  • patient and staff safety
  • minimising adverse events
  • ensuring fitness to function as part of a team.

We are passionate about enhancing patient safety through simulation training and research.

Learn more about who we are and what we do.

Our vision and mission

Vision

Safer health care through training and research excellence in the field of simulation.

Mission

Our goal is to enhance patient safety and clinical outcomes by integrating innovative clinical training using simulation-based techniques with research that explores individuals, teams and systems.

Our team

Our team of highly skilled instructors share a common interest and passion in education and patient safety.

Simulation-based team training requires special expertise in addition to clinical ability.

Our instructors are specialists, Fellows, and senior nursing staff active clinically in their areas of specialty, and are largely from anaesthesia, intensive care and emergency medicine.

Our Centre provides extended instructor training and has processes for certifying its instructors. We have a group of dedicated junior medical staff who are training to become simulation instructors.

We welcome visitors who are interested in learning about simulation-based team training in healthcare.

You can email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au for more information about teaching, research and Fellowship opportunities.

Training

The Centre offers more than 65 different courses including instructor training, and advanced communications programs. 

These courses include inter-professional team training focussing on:

  • resource management
  • communication, leadership, and decision-making 
  • specialised skills training, including advanced airway skills
  • bespoke courses tailor made for specific participant groups
  • niche courses for defined groups, for example, procedural sedation training for endoscopists.
Research

The Centre uses simulation for training, quality improvement and research to improve patient safety and clinical outcomes.

Our multiskilled faculty have a proven track record in innovation and research.

We are interested in resilient health care and understanding how expertise contributes to the capacity of a system to respond to challenges.  

We conduct human factors research to improve patient safety by:

  • developing new tools and guidelines for clinical practice (especially in emergency situations)
  • testing new processes and equipment before introducing them into clinical practice
  • using in situ simulation to analyse equipment, systems and environments (design and pre-commission stages)
  • identifying inactive safety threats in existing medical and healthcare spaces.

We also conduct research into:

  • why and how simulation works as a teaching tool
  • understanding which elements of a clinical encounter should be kept in clinical simulations.
Support for simulation

The Centre is supported by a team of specialist doctors and senior nurses who are certified simulation instructors and clinically active in the specialty areas of:

  • anaesthesia
  • intensive care (adult, paediatric and neonatal)
  • emergency medicine. 

Our faculty are passionate about enhancing patient safety through simulation training and research. The Centre also provides:

  • instructor training
  • faculty development programs
  • curriculum development and evaluation
  • advice about setting up and running simulation centres.
Our facility and equipment

Our Centre is a highly flexible space with the latest equipment, and includes:

  • Two clinical simulation spaces with replicas of an emergency department, ward, intensive care unit and an operating theatre.
  • Five flexible areas.
  • Two debriefing rooms suitable for advanced communication training.

The Centre is supported by a fully integrated audio-visual system to capture vision, sound, instructor and course details.

Our equipment

Our family of Laerdal newborn, infant, child and adult mannequins includes:

  • SimNewB®
  • SimBaby®
  • SimJunior®
  • SimMan®
  • SimMan3G®
  • SimMom®.

We also have a family of METI mannequins, including PediaSIM ECS, PediaSIM HPS and METI HPS. 

  • The ultra-sophisticated METI HPS is one of only 3 in NSW. 
  • The PediaSIM HPS is 1 of only 2 in Australia and New Zealand.  
  • These are the only simulators on the current market able to respond to the administration of real anaesthetic gases and provide respiratory gas exchange.

Clinical equipment in our replica operating theatre, ICU, emergency department
and wards include:

  • piped gases
  • Sonosite M-turbo ultrasound
  • GE Aisys electronic anaesthesia machine
  • fibre-optic and video bronchoscopes
  • video-laryngoscopes
  • defibrillators
  • warming devices
  • infusion pumps
  • ventilators.

Other specialised educational equipment include:

  • Ventriloscope (transmits heart & lung sounds to a realistic stethoscope receiver)
  • iSimulate (a pair of iPads that operate as a patient monitor and instructor controller for mobile use, or use with standardised patients)
  • Smartboards and video-conferencing facilities.

Join our team

Find out how you can be a part of our team. 

Volunteer Instructor Program

Volunteer instructors are significant contributors to our Centre. 

We offer a limited number of places in Volunteer Instructor Program each year that aims to:

  • strengthen participants' association with our Centre
  • reward volunteers for their contribution in a meaningful way
  • create a program to develop and foster skills in teaching and simulation
  • foster the development of educators who will contribute to the Centre and Hunter New England LHD.

How to apply

We encourage college trainees and Critical Care SRMOs (Senior Resident Medical Officers) to spend some time with us, especially those with an interest in:

  • patient safety
  • human factors
  • education and educational research.

For more information or to express your interest email our Operations Manager at HNELHD-SCOpsManager@health.nsw.gov.au with:

  • your CV (curriculum vitae), include contact details of 2 referees
  • cover letter explaining what you would like to get out of the experience.
Fellowships

Our Centre and John Hunter Hospital Department of Anaesthesia offer fellowship opportunities for enthusiastic and committed provisional fellows who are passionate about patient safety and education.

At any given time, we have 4 fellows (2 simulation fellows, 1 post graduate education fellow and 1 human factors fellow) working with us for 12 months at a time. 

Recruitment is via NSW Health annual medical recruitment with advertising in late June. Interviews are held in August each year.

Simulation / Anaesthesia Fellow

There are 2 positions available. The purpose of these positions is two-fold:

  1. To provide an opportunity (0.53 FTE) for ANZCA (Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists) or equivalent provisional fellows to develop sub-speciality expertise in education, training and research using simulation-based methodologies. This position suits trainees with an interest in human factors and patient safety as well as those with an interest in education.
  2. To provide an opportunity (0.47 FTE) to develop and consolidate clinical skills by contributing to the delivery of high-quality anaesthesia services for the patients in Hunter New England LHD.
Why trainees should consider this role

This is a great opportunity to develop your skills as an educator or researcher.

Dr Rebecca Scott was a Simulation/Anaesthesia Fellow prior to taking up a position as a Staff Specialist Anaesthetist. 

Here's what Rebecca had to say about the role:

"The simulation fellow job provided excellent exposure to the non-clinical aspects of anaesthesia, coupled with the experience provided by a busy tertiary referral centre. The training in education and non-technical skills was a great boost to my clinical leadership abilities. I particularly appreciated the opportunity to integrate simulation and research, and the support and resources provided to undertake my own simulation-based research study."

Medical Students

Medical students can apply for placements for Simulation - Human Factors roles.

Note: Students must be enrolled in an Australian Education Provider (University, TAFE, College) to start a clinical placement in NSW Health. Clinical placements are organised by the Education Provider and managed in ClinConnect. 

Interests

  1. Medical education - especially in the use of simulation for education, training, assessment and research purposes.
  2. Human factors and patient safety - especially in the use of simulation as a tool for quality improvement and research.
  3. Critical care and anaesthesia (optional).

Description

The placement will provide you with an introduction to the role of simulation in healthcare by exploring the opportunities for use in education and training, as well as QI and research purposes.  

During the term you will work closely with a range of senior clinicians and closely observe how teams interact under pressure. It will give you an insight into your role in the hospital team during your internship and beyond.

This term will interest you if you have considered the following questions:

  • What will my role in the hospital team be?
  • How do I transition between learning, continuing to learn and learning to teach?
  • How do I give meaningful feedback?
  • What is the role of simulation in the training of doctors and healthcare teams?
  • What are the barriers to effective teamwork?
  • What are 'Human Factors'?
  • How can we use simulation to improve patient safety?

Activities

At the start of the rotation, we will meet with you to discuss your expectations and tailor the term in order to meet your objectives. 

You will be given an orientation to the centre and its operations. During the term you will have the opportunity to participate in a number of activities.

Achievements

Students will have an opportunity to:

  • develop their understanding of the junior doctor role as part of the healthcare team
  • observe and participate in simulation for health care teams
  • develop their understanding of resuscitation and critical care by participating in teaching activities related to these specialities.

Student electives

Email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au for more information about student electives at John Hunter Hospital. 

Our courses

The Centre offers scheduled courses and can tailor specific simulation courses for small groups. Professional development points are available for many of our courses. 

Note: Hunter New England LHD has made changes to its Advanced Life Support (ALS) policy. The Centre will continue to provide training in line with:

  • our District's policy
  • specialist medical college requirements
  • ANZCOR (Australian and New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation) guidelines.

For more information, clarifications or to join our mailing list for the latest course and vacancies, email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au  

Learn more about our courses by role or by area of interest.

Courses by role

Anaesthesia

Anaesthesia CPD Emergency Response Series

Crisis Resource Management (CRM)

Other anaesthesia-related courses

Register your interest

Email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au to register interest for these courses:

  • Complications of paediatric sedation
  • Human factors
  • Managing the shared airway in ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat)
  • Procedural sedation.
Educator

Instructor courses

Register your interest

Email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au to register interest for these courses:

  • Basic Simulation Instructor
  • Conversations in medical supervision
  • Senior Medical Officer communication and feedback skills.
Emergency Department

Register your interest

Email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au to register interest for these courses:

  • Complications of paediatric sedation
  • Human factors
  • Senior Medical Officer communication and feedback skills.
Intensive Care Unit

Register your interest

Email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au to register interest for these courses:

  • Human factors
  • Senior Medical Officer communication and feedback skills.
New graduates and students

For Year 5 JMP (Joint Medical Program) students only

  • Basic airway and deteriorating patient
  • Advanced Life Support (ALS).

Register your interest

Email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au to register interest for these courses:

  • JMO (Junior Medical Officer) Return to work.
Obstetrics (pregnancy, birth and baby)

Register your interest

Email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au to register interest for these courses:

  • Senior Medical Officer communication and feedback skills.
Paediatrics

Register your interest

Email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au to register interest for these courses:

  • Complications of paediatric sedation
  • Human factors
  • Senior Medical Officer communication and feedback skills.
Retrieval (medical trauma services)

Register your interest

Email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au to register interest for these courses:

  • Complications of paediatric sedation
  • Human factors
  • Senior Medical Officer communication and feedback skills.
Return to work for Junior Medical Officers

Email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au to register interest for this course.

Rural

Anaesthesia CPD Emergency Response Series

Emergency Department

Other courses

Register your interest

Email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au to register interest for these courses:

  • Complications of paediatric sedation
  • Human factors
  • Procedural sedation
  • Senior Medical Officer communication and feedback skills.

Courses by area of interest

Advanced Life Support

Note: Hunter New England LHD has made changes to its Advanced Life Support (ALS) policy. We will continue to provide training in line with:

  • our District's policy
  • specialist medical college requirements
  • ANZCOR (Australian and New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation) guidelines.

For more information or clarification email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au

Airway

Anaesthesia CPD Emergency Response Series

Other courses

Register your interest

Email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au to register interest for these courses:

  • Managing the shared away in ENT (Ear Nose and Throat)
  • Procedural sedation
  • Year 5 medical student: Basic airway and deteriorating patient.
Allied health

Register your interest

Email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au to register interest for these courses:

  • Allied health communication
  • Allied health debrief and feedback
Deteriorating patient

Register your interest

Email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au to register interest for these courses:

  • Year 5 medical student: ALS (Advanced Life Support)
Operating Theatre

Anaesthesia CPD Emergency Response Series

Other courses

Register your interest

Email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au to register interest for these courses:

  • Complications of paediatric sedation
  • Procedural sedation
Paediatrics

Register your interest

Email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au to register interest for these courses:

  • Complications of paediatric sedation
People, leadership and culture

Register your interest

Email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au to register interest for these courses:

  • Human factors
  • Pharmacy debrief and feedback 
  • Senior Medical Officer communication and feedback skills
Sedation and pain

Register your interest

Email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au to register interest for these courses:

  • Complications of paediatric sedation
  • Procedural sedation 
Sepsis
Simulation instructor

Register your interest

Email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au to register interest for these courses:

  • Basic Simulation Instructor course
  • Conversations in medical supervision
Trainees and career progression

Register your interest

Email HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au to register interest for these courses:

  • Allied health debrief and feedback
  • Basic simulation instructor course
  • Human factors
  • JMO (Junior Medical Officer) Return to work
  • Year 5 medical student - ALS (Advanced Life Support) - for Year 5 Joint Medical Program [JMP] students only
  • Year 5 medical student - Basic airway and deteriorating patient (for Year 5 Joint Medical Program [JMP] students only
Trauma

Contact us

Phone:(02) 4921 4268

Email:HNELHD-SC@health.nsw.gov.au 

Street address:2 Lookout Rd, New Lambton Heights NSW 2305

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