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We support and empower our ICU team to deliver excellence in clinical care by offering the highest standards of research, education and training.

We regularly hold both low and high-fidelity simulation sessions for emergency scenarios including ECMO.

We also offer an extensive range of training courses for medical and nursing professionals of all levels. External professionals can also benefit from our world-class training and education initiatives with many courses open to all.

See below for a list of our upcoming courses and training.

Canberra ICU Course

The annual Canberra ICU Course is for ICU trainees presenting to the Second Part Examination in Intensive Care Medicine. Content is mainly aimed at candidates planning to present within 6 to 18 months.

We limit participant numbers to ensure maximum exposure to our course faculty and senior College of Intensive Care Medicine (CICM) examiners. The course includes formal lectures as well as opportunities for vivas and mock clinical exams. A psychologist experienced in exam preparation will provide lectures and small group workshops.

The focus of the course is on study and examination technique with particular emphasis on physical examination skills. It is a preparation course for the CICM Second Part examination run by intensivists from our ICU.

We routinely invite senior intensivists from other Australian centres to enhance the educational experience for participants. The course includes:

  • Exam preparation and technique, with a focus on clinical examination skills using a range of formats from lectures and tutorials to mock exams.
  • Lectures including:
    • exam technique for written, vivas & hot cases
    • psychological preparation for the CICM Second Part Examination
  • Small group psychologist sessions
  • Mock viva examinations which may include communication and interactive stations
  • Mock written examination
  • Physical examination tutorials
  • Hot case technique tutorials
  • Hot case examinations

For more information please contact icu@act.gov.au

BASIC courses

The Basic Assessment and Support in Intensive Care (BASIC) Course was founded in 2004 by members of the Department of Anaesthesia & Intensive Care at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).

The course is taught in over 70 countries. We deliver three BASIC course options at CHS. Registration and course material is accessed via the CUHK (see links below).

Canberra Health Services team members who establish a BASIC user profile on the CUHK website are advised that any personal information they provide is not managed by the ACT Government. You should not use your ACT Government password when creating a user profile on the CUHK website.

Basic Assessment & Support in Intensive Care

Canberra Hospital runs the 2-day BASIC course quarterly. The course is aimed at medical or nursing staff with little experience in Intensive Care, or staff who may work in critical care but wish to hone their ICU skills.

Beyond BASIC

Beyond BASIC Mechanical Ventilation is for experienced ICU staff who wish to improve their mechanical ventilation skills. This is a two day course that is run a few times a year. Information on the dates can be found on the Beyond BASIC Mechanical Ventilation website.

Beyond BASIC Nephrology is for experienced ICU staff who wish to improve their nephrology and renal replacement therapy skills. This is a two day course that is run a few times a year. Information on the dates can be found on the Beyond BASIC Nephrology website.

BASIC for Nurses

BASIC for Nurses is offered to new nursing staff who have joined the ICU. This course will give you the necessary skills to work and succeed as a nurse in ICU.

VERY BASIC

VERY BASIC is a course designed to upskill interns and final year medical students. It is a simulation-based course which needs pre-reading and also focuses on medication safety and errors.

ECHO Course

Canberra Critical Care Echo Course equips trainees with basic theory and the practical skills required to perform a point of care Cardiac ultrasound (POCUS). It is a one day course that goes for 8.5 hours, of which approximately 4 hours are spent scanning on live models in small groups. The course is recognised by CICM as an Focused Cardiac Ultrasound (FCU) course.

ECMO Course and Simulation

The ECMO Study Day is a one-day program that includes lectures on basic ECMO knowledge, demonstrations of ECMO cannulation and Cardiohelp ECMO system, interactive sessions and multiple hands-on ECMO workshops. Our regular cannulation workshops, wet lab training and ECMO simulations aim to provide constant reskilling and upskilling.

For more information about any of our course offerings please contact icu@act.gov.au