Expedition Medicine

About this course

These eight-day intensive and practical residential courses are now being offered by the University of Tasmania in partnership with the Australian Antarctic Division as stand-alone courses or as an elective unit in the Healthcare in Remote and Extreme Environments program.

This course provides both theoretical and practical coverage of the following topics:

• Pre-expedition planning and medical kits
• Wilderness emergency medical response
• Environmental medicine (cold injury, high altitude medicine and avalanche burial and rescue)
• Search and rescue
• Steep terrain rescue
• Use of stretchers and splints
• Leadership and teamwork
• Remote area communications
• Navigation

ACRRM and RACGP QI&CPD points can be claimed for this course.

Register now Expedition Medicine flyer (PDF 542.3 KB) HREE Courses Calendar 2025 (PDF 292.5 KB)

Course content

This workshop is an intensive, residential course providing practical skills development. The course commences with a focus on basic knowledge and skills in the following domains: expedition preparation and planning, wilderness emergency medical response, search and rescue, remote area communications, navigation, steep terrain rescue, use of stretchers and splints, and cold injury and high altitude medicine.

Participants are required to apply these skills in progressively more complex exercises, and to adapt, synthesise, and improvise to solve prolonged, complex emergency scenarios. A strong emphasis is placed upon developing leadership and team-working skills.

The practical elements are complemented by an on-line component in the medical aspects of pre-expedition preparation and planning.

Course Structure

At the end of the course participants will be able to:

• Describe an approach to the medical aspects of expedition planning, including the design of medical kits;
• Describe and apply the Accident Management Plan for emergencies in wilderness areas, for both single and multiple patient problems;
• Describe and apply an approach to Search and Rescue;
• Describe and apply principles of leadership, followership and team-working in emergency situations;
• Demonstrate the use of a range of proprietary splints and stretchers;
• Improvise various items of medical and rescue equipment;
• Describe the pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of high altitude medical problems;
• Describe the pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of cold induced injuries;
• Describe common snow and ice structures and the processes involved in avalanches and cornice collapses;
• Describe the approach to, and rationale for, providing medical care to avalanche victims;
• Demonstrate the management of common fractures and dislocations;
• Demonstrate the management of common medical emergencies in a wilderness setting, specifically asthma, anaphylaxis and diabetes, and;
• Describe a range of regional anaesthetic blocks appropriate to the wilderness OR demonstrate the ability to assess a wound, and where appropriate use local anaesthetic and sutures to close the wound.

Who should do this course?

Medical and health professionals, guides and outdoor education teachers with an interest in remote and extreme medicine/environments

Location

• On the first day we will meet in Launceston before boarding the bus to Mount Cameron Field Study Centre for the remaining 8 days.

Pre-course Preparation

• To access the pre-course preparation and to get a better feel of the what the course will be like please visit hree.tsom.utas.edu.au . You will need to create a login in that system to access the pre-course resources.

Cost

• Health Professionals: $5,990 (GST incl)
• Students undertaking the Graduate Certificate in Healthcare in Remote and Extreme Environments (M5A)^#

#Students undertaking the Graduate Certificate in Healthcare in Remote and Extreme Environments (M5A) are required to complete this residential short course before they can undertake the assessment for CAM631 Expedition Medicine. The assessment tasks must be completed within the same semester as the Short Course and adhere to the provided deadlines unless alternative arrangements have been approved by the Course Coordinator.

This price includes an extensive course manual, all meals, accommodation at Mount Cameron Field Study Centre, and return travel from Launceston to Mt Cameron.

This course is offered in partnership with the Australian Antarctic Division.

Additional offer

Survive First Aid the company that facilitates the WFA course has worked closely with us to be able to offer people an easy and affordable option to complete the Certificate once completed Expedition Medicine.

Anyone wanting to attain their Wilderness First Aid Skill set can do so through Survive First Aid (RTO 40764) for a cost of $175 paid directly to Survive First Aid. To obtain this you will need to attend the final day only of any of Survive First Aid’s Public Wilderness Courses (Day 4) within 6 months of completing your Expedition Medicine Course to demonstrate your knowledge and skills within a practical setting.

For more information please visit the Survive First Aid website.

Further Study Options

Upon successful completion of this Expedition Medicine course, eligible participants are offered the opportunity to enrol in and complete our Expedition Medicine unit (CAM631) for credit towards the Graduate Certificate in Healthcare in Remote and Extreme Environments (M5A).

By undertaking further study, you will be able to deepen your knowledge of healthcare in remote and extreme environments.

In addition to Expedition medicine, other units available include:

• CAM503 Operational Aspects of Healthcare in Remote and Extreme Environments
• CAM619 Medicine in Extreme Environments
• CAA500 Advanced Clinical Reasoning in Out of Hospital Practice (for Paramedics)
• KHB701 Human Behaviour in Extreme Environments
• CAM632 Humans in Space

For further details visit the website at Healthcare in Remote and Extreme Environments.

Contact us

For further information contact CPD Medicine.