As part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Pacific Sports Program, first aid and sports medicine training were conducted in Papua New Guinea (PNG) recently at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby.
This followed previous sessions focused on coaching and refereeing for rugby league and touch football.
The first aid course covered key skills, including CPR, the use of defibrillators, and the management of common injuries such as asthma and allergic reactions.
Warrant Officer Class 2 Michael Alison, one of the ADF Sports Trainer Facilitators, shared that stage two of the Sports Trainer Course will concentrate on field behavior, injury prevention, and effective management.
“Our focus will be on the practical aspects of fieldwork and injury prevention,” said Warrant Officer Alison.
Lieutenant Issac Ramson, a physiotherapist with the PNG Defence Force, took part in both the first aid and rugby league coaching and refereeing courses.
He was one of eight PNG Defence Force members involved in the program.
Reflecting on the training, Lieutenant Ramson highlighted its direct relevance to his work at the military hospital at Taurama Barracks.
“This course has been incredibly relevant to my role,” he explained.
“The hands-on skills I’ve gained will be very useful in my daily work, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to be part of it.”
“It’s also been exciting to meet Australian military personnel and learn from their wealth of experience.”
“The content was very valuable,” he added.
In addition to the medical training, participants also engaged in coaching and refereeing courses that stressed the importance of sportsmanship and leadership within their communities.
“The coaching and referee course was really insightful,” said Lieutenant Ramson.
“It highlighted the core values of sport and how to live by those values.”
“It also emphasized the importance of being positive role models for both our sports and our communities, which I think is essential.”