Health brigade marks year of transformation

2nd Health Brigade has marked a year of enhancing the capability and capacity of Army’s deployable health system after bringing the four health battalions under a health formation headquarters.

CAPTION: Medics from 2nd Health Brigade simulate rendering first aid to a soldier during a mass casualty exercise in Shoalwater Bay training area, Queensland, in 2023. Story by Captains Prashanth Shanmugan and Nicholas Marquis. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

With the mission to generate deployable health capability to support the joint force in peace and war, the brigade has become an integral part of Army’s continuing transformation.

Reflecting on the achievements of the brigade’s first year, Commander 2nd Health Brigade Brigadier Jocelyn King said they had a particularly busy 2023, with more than 220 personnel deploying across 16 countries in support of a range of operations and activities.

“Concurrently, the brigade also supported all major collective training activities, with a highlight being our significant contribution to Exercise Talisman Sabre,” Brigadier King said.

“Raising a dedicated health brigade has enhanced Army’s ability to raise, train and sustain our deployable health assets.

“We are generating additional capacity in the deployable health system, particularly in the areas of forward surgery and allied health.”

Through deployments and training opportunities across the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, the brigade has trained partner forces to enhance healthcare delivery and casualty management.

It has also had a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of communities domestically through participation in the 2023 Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program.

Brigadier King said the brigade would continue to evolve its capabilities in response to the Defence Strategic Review and focus on being able to deploy effectively in a littoral environment.

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