New South Wales will establish a dedicated institute to enhance emergency medical care for severely injured children, following a series of high-profile trauma incidents in the state. The NSW Institute for Paediatric Trauma, to be based at Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick, aims to unite clinicians, researchers, and specialists to provide advanced training and simulation exercises across the healthcare system.
The institute, expected to be operational within six months, will focus on preparing medical teams for managing complex pediatric trauma cases, spanning from immediate emergency response to long-term rehabilitation. It will initially operate out of Randwick, with plans to eventually expand its training programs across regional NSW and into the Australian Capital Territory, which frequently transfers pediatric trauma patients to Sydney hospitals.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park noted the initiative was prompted by recent critical incidents, including attacks at Bondi Beach and Bondi Junction. “The events that occurred at Bondi Beach and Bondi Junction have forever left their mark on NSW,” Park said, commending the frontline workers and clinicians for their courageous and professional responses. “We know we won’t always be able to prevent trauma events, but we can make sure we are ready to respond when children and families need us most.”
Medical experts emphasize that pediatric trauma care differs significantly from adult treatment. Dr. Guy Henry, co-director of trauma services at Randwick, explained that children often sustain different types of injuries requiring distinct clinical approaches. Unlike adult trauma, often caused by assaults or motor vehicle accidents, pediatric patients may present with internal organ injuries related to risk-taking behaviors, or an increasing number of e-bike crash injuries. Burns also manifest differently in children compared to adults, underscoring the need for tailored care protocols.
Dr. Henry, who provided care during the 2024 Westfield Bondi Junction stabbings and the Bondi beach terror attack, highlighted the importance of ongoing education and mass casualty simulations in building emergency response capacity. Citing the Manchester Arena attack response in 2017 as an example, he said frequent training improves familiarity and confidence in managing large-scale emergencies that clinicians might not otherwise experience. “Through education, including the use of simulation, we can make people more familiar with managing trauma,” he stated.
Beyond clinical training, the institute will extend simulation exercises to pre-hospital first responders such as paramedics, firefighters, police, and the State Emergency Service. It also aims to address the psychological impacts of trauma on healthcare workers and families affected by critical events. “Not only do we have the child that we have to manage, we have the families to manage, we also have our own staff to manage,” Henry remarked. Improving staff preparedness may help mitigate the psychological toll of emergency care.
The institute will collaborate closely with the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network—incorporating the Westmead children’s hospital and the Newborn and Paediatric Emergency Transport Service—and complement the efforts of the Agency for Clinical Innovation’s Institute of Trauma and Injury Management. Funding support will be provided through the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation.