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Advanced Life Support Training strengthens rural emergency care during Rural Health Month
01st December 2025
Two accredited Advanced Life Support (ALS) workshops were delivered during Rural Health Month, equipping rural clinicians with critical skills to manage life-threatening emergencies. Held at the Wesley Convention Centre in Sydney ahead of the Rural GPs Conference, the ALS 1 and ALS 2 courses attracted doctors committed to improving emergency care in rural communities. 
The workshops offered hands-on, face-to-face learning—an approach highly valued by rural practitioners for its practical focus and opportunities for peer networking.
Participant Dr Dinushi Warnasuriya, a GP from Karuah, said the course was excellent and recommends the workshop to anyone, from new to experienced doctors. “ALS is not something you can learn out of a book. We absolutely need the practice and experience. The course is all hands-on experience; we each had a go and took turns at doing the simulations,” said Dr Warnasuriya.
The ALS 1 Workshop focused on building confidence in recognising, assessing, and managing deteriorating patients, including cardiac arrest. Participants learned airway management, defibrillation techniques, and effective teamwork using the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) ALS algorithm. The one-day course equips clinicians with an ALS certificate valid for four years.
The ALS 2 Workshop was an intensive two-day program, designed for clinicians who regularly apply or teach advanced resuscitation skills. The course covered advanced interventions such as manual defibrillation, managing life-threatening arrhythmias, and planning post-resuscitation care. Participants also developed leadership and communication skills essential for coordinating emergency teams in high-pressure situations.
RDN’s Education Services Manager Arna Wotherspoon was pleased with the enthusiasm of participants once again. “These simulation-based workshops give participants hands-on experience in every role within an emergency team, building confidence and teamwork. The enthusiasm we've witnessed from participants confirms the vital role these workshops play in strengthening emergency care capabilities across our rural communities.
"By bringing advanced life support training directly to our rural practitioners, we're ensuring our medical professionals are equipped with the latest emergency response skills," said Arna.
“The workshops held during Rural Health Month are just two of the 12 we’ve held across rural NSW this year and reaffirm RDN’s commitment to supporting rural clinicians with high-quality, accredited training that saves lives”.
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