06 July 2022, CANBERRA – Professor Leonard (Len) Notaras AO, Executive Director of the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC) welcomed Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega and her delegation on 28 June 2022 to the NCCTRC Headquarters where they were taken on a tour of the facility and briefed on the organization’s evolution.

The NCCTRC was established in 2002 and provides clinical and academic leadership in disaster and trauma care. Based in Darwin, it has emergency medical response facilities, provides education and training, and has state-of-the-art research facilities.

Ambassador De La Vega recalled and renewed the Philippines’ sincerest gratitude for the critical medical assistance the NCCTRC and the Australian Medical Assistance Teams (AUSMAT) have provided to the victims of typhoon Haiyan in 2013. Five days after the typhoon struck, the AUSMAT who flew from Darwin was able to immediately set-up a 50-bed surgical field hospital next to Tacloban Airport and treat hundreds of patients a day.

Professor Notaras who is also Chair of the World Health Organization’s Emergency Medical Team (EMT) Strategic Advisory Group (SAG), looked forward to further strengthening the NCCTRC’s relationship with the Philippines to enhance preparedness for health emergencies in the future. -- END