AWEMS Pre-Conference - AWLS Introduction to Wilderness Medicine

An Introduction to Wilderness Rescue Medicine

TUESDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2026   |   08:00–16:00

Katoomba or Blackheath, Blue Mountains, NSW  •  Exact venue TBC

AWEMS 2026 Pre-Conference Workshop  |  Presented by RescueMED

Take your medical skills beyond the conventional clinical environment!

What happens when your patient is hours from definitive medical care, equipment is limited, the environment presents additional challenges, and evacuation is anything but straightforward?

Join RescueMED for an exciting, hands-on introduction to Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS®), an internationally recognised wilderness medicine education programme developed by the University of Utah School of Medicine.

Delivered with the support of the University of Utah School of Medicine, RescueMED contextualises the internationally recognised AWLS® programme for Australasian environments, integrating wilderness medical knowledge with practical rescue skills, environmental considerations and realistic scenarios relevant to Australia and New Zealand.

Participants will explore:

• Wilderness patient assessment: Adapting clinical assessment, decision-making and treatment priorities to remote and resource-limited environments.

• Trauma and wound management: Managing injuries when conventional equipment, assistance and definitive care may be hours away.

• Environmental emergencies: Recognising and managing hypothermia, heat illness and other environmental threats.

• Improvised wilderness care: Developing practical solutions using the equipment and resources available.

• Patient extrication and evacuation: Exploring patient packaging, movement and evacuation considerations in challenging terrain.

• Realistic wilderness scenarios: Putting knowledge and skills into practice through interactive, scenario-based learning.

This workshop is designed for doctors, nurses, paramedics, medical students, rescue personnel, outdoor professionals and anyone interested in developing their wilderness medicine knowledge and skills.

Whether you’re new to wilderness medicine or an experienced clinician looking to extend your capabilities beyond the traditional healthcare setting, this workshop offers an opportunity to learn, practise and challenge yourself in a supportive outdoor environment.

Your pathway to Advanced Wilderness Life Support certification

This workshop also provides an introduction to the broader AWLS® programme and an opportunity to discover further wilderness medicine training pathways.

Participants interested in pursuing AWLS® certification are encouraged to consider RescueMED’s upcoming full Advanced Wilderness Life Support course at Mount Buller, Victoria, from 7–10 December 2026.

The full programme offers more comprehensive wilderness medicine education and preparation for the AWLS® certification examination.

The workshop will also introduce participants to RescueMED's exciting range of wilderness and rescue medicine training opportunities, including Marine, Swiftwater, Canyon and Vertical Rescue Medicine programmes. Each offers a unique opportunity to develop specialist clinical and rescue skills through immersive, practical training in challenging environments across Australasia.

Please note: This one-day workshop is an introductory experience and does not itself provide AWLS® certification. Certification is obtained through the University of Utah School of Medicine’s AWLS® assessment pathway.

Join us in the Blue Mountains!

Experience wilderness medicine where it matters most - outside the classroom, in the environment where your skills may one day make all the difference.

Date: Tuesday 24 November 2026  |  Time: 08:00-16:00

Location: Katoomba or Blackheath, Blue Mountains, NSW - exact venue to be confirmed.

Investment: A$395 standard  |  A$350 AWEMS member / early bird

Includes: Eight hours of practical instruction, specialist training equipment, realistic wilderness scenarios, lunch and refreshments.