More than 70 adults and up to 20 children came together in Newcastle for a Lifesavers community training event focused on CPR, automated external defibrillators (AEDs), choking and emergency response.
The event brought together members of the local community, healthcare professionals, emergency services, community leaders and volunteers, with participants describing the training as highly valuable and engaging.
Among the special guests were Newcastle Deputy Mayor Charlotte McCabe, Councillor Elizabeth Adamczyk and Greens Member for Wallsend Alex Ford. Imam Mohamed and mosque president Yunus Kara also attended and supported the initiative.
The event featured an impressive group of healthcare professionals who volunteered their time to train participants. Dr Carolyn Hullick, an emergency physician and Chief Medical Officer with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, participated in the event and provided training.
Senior emergency physicians Dr Mark Miller, Dr Mike Anscombe, Dr Yasir Khattak, Dr Hugh Reid, Dr Mohammed Morshed and Dr Seyamand also participated, sharing their expertise in emergency care and lifesaving skills.
Participants also received training from trauma nurse Kate King, Drug and Alcohol Nurse Sarah Allen and Mental Health Nurse Rachel Towns.
Shaun Hicks from Hunter Heart Safe provided CPR and AED training, with Hunter Heart Safe generously supplying the mannequins and training equipment used throughout the session.
The event was also attended by Ashley Young, Lisa Budden and Catherine McGowan from Multicultural and Refugee Health, highlighting the importance of accessible health education across Newcastle’s diverse communities.
A number of Newcastle and surrounding area GPs also participated, including Dr Shahul Mujahid, Dr Tahmeena Shah, Dr Maham Khan, Dr Izham Ishak, Dr Afifa Younis and Dr Saira Chandio. GP and cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Shafiq Rahman also took part in the training.
NSW Ambulance paramedics Dean and Mark Doran attended and provided further practical training, giving participants an opportunity to learn directly from frontline emergency responders.
The event also had a special focus on families, with well-known children’s author Renea Giles attending with her partner and two children.
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting the quality and practical nature of the training.
Following the training, the mosque hosted participants with free coffee, Turkish pide and pizza, providing an opportunity for the community to relax, connect and continue conversations beyond the formal session.
The event also provided valuable opportunities for networking and collaboration between healthcare professionals, emergency services, community organisations and local residents.
The Newcastle event was organised by Dr Lamisa on behalf of the Newcastle chapter, together with Dr Mustafa Majeed Omar, Newcastle Chapter Lead and National Lead for AIMA Lifesavers.
The Lifesavers initiative aims to equip communities with the knowledge and confidence to respond effectively during medical emergencies, potentially saving lives before professional help arrives.
The Newcastle event was also featured on ABC Newcastle Radio’s Saturday Breakfast program.
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