Following the Bali bombing in 2002 and the South East Asian tsunami in 2004, recommendations were made to develop civilian medical team capabilities within Australia to respond to incidents within the State, Australia or overseas.
The Western Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT WA) is a multidisciplinary team that deploys to the site of a disaster at short notice, to provide health support. The team can be self-sufficient for up to 2 weeks and can provide its own shelter, power, food, water, medical supplies and communications.
A comprehensive cache of self-sustainability equipment and Disaster Medical Supplies Lists (DMSL) are used during deployments.
AUSMAT WA volunteer team structure
Depending on the requirements of the deployment, an AUSMAT WA team may potentially include the following volunteers:
Doctors
- Surgeons – general, trauma, orthopaedic, burns and plastics, paediatric
- Anaesthetists
- Physicians – emergency, ICU, public health, infectious diseases, internal medicine
- General practitioners
Nurses
- ED
- ICU
- Theatre
- Burns
- Plastics
- Paediatric
- Surgical
- Orthopaedic
- Public health
- Infection control
- Midwifery
Other professionals
- Logistics officers
- Paramedics
- Environmental health officers
Deployment history
PNG Earthquake 2018
AUSMAT WA deployed the Mission Team Leader for the Forward Support Team in response to the 26 Feb 19 earthquake. The Team assessed the viability and recommended the scope for the larger AUSMAT deployment that followed.
Dirk Hartog Island Events 2016
WAMAT deployed a Doctor and Nurse in medical support of the Dirk Hartog Island 400th Anniversary celebrations.
Nepal 2015
In April 2015, AUSMAT WA deployed a Doctor as part of an AUSMAT Needs Assessment Team responding to the ANZAC Day earthquake. The team provided advice to DFAT in-country on the requirement for further international medical assistance.
Typhoon Haiyan, Philippines 2013
Six AUSMAT WA volunteers deployed with a national AUSMAT team to provide health support to the local response following the devastating typhoon in November 2013.
Northern Territory 2013
Staff recently volunteered with a team of health professionals who travelled to Maningrida in the Northern Territory to treat trachoma. The aim was to visit households within the remote community, administer the appropriate dose of azithromycin to those affected by trachoma, and educate people about the importance of maintaining hygiene and clean faces.
Pakistan Floods 2010
Staff were part of a 27-member AUSMAT team deployed with the Commonwealth’s AusAID program to help with relief efforts after the worst flooding in Pakistan’s history.
Ashmore Reef Explosion 2009
An explosion on board a Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel resulted in 5 deaths and 44 injured (31 seriously). WA Health coordinated the medical response once the casualties had reached Western Australian soil, and provided medical teams to assist in the response.
Tropical Cyclone George 2007
This category 5 cyclone crossed the coast 50km north-west of Port Hedland. Although the cyclone caused minimal damage in Port Hedland, it resulted in 3 deaths and 15 casualties in the region, of which 6 were critical and all of which were evacuated to Perth. A medical team from Perth deployed to Port Hedland to support local health staff.
Yogyakarta Earthquake 2006
WA deployed a 12-person medical team for 14 days to Yogyakarta, Indonesia to assist following a 6.3 magnitude earthquake. The earthquake resulted in 5,782 deaths and 36,299 injured.
Boxing Day Tsunami 2004
WA deployed a 12-person medical team to contribute to the Australian civilian medical teams’ response. WA staff were deployed to Banda Aceh in Indonesia and the Maldives.
More information
AUSMAT WA positions are very limited. Vacancies will be advertised on this page and through normal channels.
The AUSMAT experience isn’t for everyone. Living conditions on deployment can be very challenging, especially on overseas deployments. Read more about the conditions and challenges to decide if volunteering with AUSMAT is for you.
For more information on the AUSMAT please send us an email.
Produced by
Disaster Preparedness and Management Directorate