iscover
Ambulance Victoria paramedics and Babcock pilots participated in a joint exercise last month to practice rescuing individuals who get into trouble at sea.
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The “high-pressure aerial tests” took place over seven days in Port Phillip Bay and off the coast of Port Fairy last month.
Air Ambulance Victoria said it conducts dozens of winch and numerous water-based rescues each year, ranging from individuals swept out to sea to patient retrievals from vessels many nautical miles off the coast.
Babcock, meanwhile, has supplied Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) in the state since 2016, employing five AW139 helicopters and a service assurance aircraft.
“More than 14 Babcock pilots, 20 air crew officers (ACO) and five ACO instructors from four bases across the state supported the training of Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) flight paramedics, as the crews practiced water-based rescue techniques under simulated conditions,” Babcock said.
Exercises for the MICA paramedics are particularly crucial as they are trained to have a higher clinical skill set than traditional paramedics and can perform more advanced medical procedures without medical consultation.
“The annual training, led by Air Ambulance Victoria, is designed to ensure the highest level of preparedness for rescues in the physically and technically demanding ocean environment,” Babcock added.
“Over 40 MICA flight paramedics re-validated their water winching qualifications during the activity. Babcock supplied the aircraft, training equipment, and flight crews for the multi-day exercise.
“Also supporting the activity were community partners Australian Volunteer Coast Guard – St Kilda, Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad, Port Fairy Marine Rescue and Sandringham Yacht Club, who generously donated their time and resources to enhance Victoria’s maritime rescue capability.”
It comes after Australian Aviation reported last year how Ambulance Victoria (AV) renewed its contract with Babcock Australasia for another five years.
The extension, valued at more than $370 million, will take effect on 1 January 2026 and see Babcock continue to supply the state with HEMS until 2030.
Ambulance Victoria’s HEMS responded to 2,197 incidents in 2023, with an average of almost 200 cases monthly. The five-year extension will end on 31 December 2030.
