This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to organise health support operations in a field deployment context in support of operations, in accordance with relevant organisational policy and procedures.

This unit is applicable to logistics personnel responsible for organising and managing the delivery of health support in a field deployment context.

People who undertake this unit will usually be a clinician or a health care provider. This role requires management and leadership skills.

Health elements may be comprised of a range of health capability from different disciplines (such as dental, pathology, surgical), which, when brought together, form a comprehensive health support organisation. The composition of this health support organisation will be guided by the type and scale of operation.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1 

Prepare for health support operations 

1.1

Information is sourced and analysed to identify health factors to be considered

1.2

Considerations of production/maintenance planning are applied to derive the most efficient employment of health element equipment and personnel

1.3

Maintenance of health equipment is scheduled within the constraints of delivering health support

1.4

Preparedness of health personnel is monitored to ensure personnel are competent, authorised and ready to provide health care

1.5

Principles of health support are applied to preparing and planning health support

1.6

Instructions are prepared and delivered to implement and coordinate health support operations

1.7

Technical advice is provided to management and stakeholders

2 

Manage evacuation support 

2.1

Evacuation planning factors are taken into consideration when planning and compiling an evacuation task order

2.2

Evacuation assets are maintained in a state of high readiness to respond to evacuation tasking

2.3

Processes and procedures are established to enable despatch and control of evacuation assets in response to tasking

2.4

Evacuation support is delivered to support continuity of care to casualties requiring evacuation via the health element

2.5

Evacuation support is delivered within operational environment constraints allowing for appropriate security and protection of evacuation assets

2.6

Reception and despatch of casualties with other evacuation modes is coordinated

3 

Manage health support 

3.1

Interrelationship between health elements is managed to enable continuity of care as patient transitions through care agencies

3.2

Health care specialists and providers are consulted to ensure patient holding is appropriate and is balanced with care required and needed to maintain health element mobility

3.3

Patient tracking is managed to ensure accurate picture of patient status at all times and to ensure personnel administrative system is informed of patient movements

3.4

Health records are maintained to enable accurate recording of care provided and basis for review and ongoing treatment

3.5

Health logistics are managed to ensure health resources available for care are consistent with care required and capability of health element

3.6

Health related reports and returns are prepared and submitted to assist with organisational health planning and coordination

3.7

Knowledge of relevant conventions and laws (such as the Geneva Conventions and the Laws of Armed Conflict) are applied to health support delivery

3.8

Welfare and administration of patients and health element personnel is monitored

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria on at least one occasion and include:

• applying knowledge of health planning and coordination
• applying health planning tools to inform health planning
• delivering clear, concise, accurate and authoritative instructions
• identifying relationships between organisational goals and recognising how own planning contributes to achieving these goals
• leading a team of medical experts as required
• liaising with external agencies to coordinate health support
• preparing health related reports and returns
• supervising a team of health care workers
• using information technology and software
• working closely with a senior clinical officer to coordinate health support.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include knowledge of:

• health stores and equipment resupply systems and procedures
• legislative and regulatory environment as it relates to materiel logistics
• logistics support analysis principles and processes
• organisational policy and procedures
• organisational role relevant to specialist logistic support
• patient tracking and administration
• planning processes
• policy and procedures relating to evacuation
• preparedness requirements of health personnel
• principles of health support
• requirements relating to managing health waste
• supplying, handling and storing blood products
• tasks and composition of health elements and their points of interaction.

As a minimum, assessors must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

As a minimum, assessment must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations, current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations where it is appropriate to do so; where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in simulated workplace operational situations that replicate workplace conditions.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Resources for assessment include:

• a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or simulations
• relevant and appropriate materials, tools, equipment and personal protective equipment currently used in industry
• applicable documentation including workplace procedures, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals.