As part of our #HcSimWeek21 celebration, we interviewed Luke Wainwright, our Assistant Nursing Director of Simulation and Education. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
What is your role?
My job is to provide an environment for my team to succeed. The Simulation and Education team is wonderfully diverse, and this enables us to create some brilliant products. We apply Instructional Design, Design Thinking, Improvement Science, and Service Redesign principles to develop the best solutions to healthcare problems.
What does your team do?
Where do I start? The simulation specialists could be 3D printing a uterus for our Maternity Education Program or delivering a trauma workshop with the Australian Defence Force. They might be at a hospital somewhere in Queensland facilitating a discussion on process redesign and running a scenario to test a new model of care. Maybe they are teaching Advanced Life Support or intravenous cannulation or supporting college accredited surgical or anaesthetic training.
The online learning developers could be creating exciting and interactive online learning. The videographer could be out at Whyte Island filming a pre-hospital scenario for the Metro North Virtual ED or Fire Safety program. Maybe the instructional designer is breaking down a ten-year-old course manual and 200-slide PowerPoint deck into easily understood education that clinicians have time to learn and just might apply in their clinical practice. Or maybe they are helping at vaccination clinics or teaching contact tracing. I could go on, but I think that’s enough.
What are your interests outside of work?
The big thing for me at the moment is the Royal Life Saving Bronze Medallion. I was inspired to do this by Ellie, my daughter, who is already a surf lifesaver and seeing her growth, the fun she had, and the things she learned. I am about halfway through at the moment. I enjoy learning about aquatic rescue and marine safety and can’t wait to put it into practice at Redcliffe. It is fascinating discussing how they use simulation-based education and online learning to teach their team. My long-term plan is to work a shift on Byron Bay Main Beach, Noosa Main Beach, and Bondi.
What is something that people might not know about CSDS?
CSDS is not just a building on the Herston campus; it is a statewide service that supports a network of over 130 sites. It is our jewel in the crown and the envy of so many simulation providers across Australia. When I talk to simulation providers outside of our network and discuss their challenges, I am pleased to provide our clinical colleagues with low-cost or no-cost simulation training and equipment. This leaves them to focus on delivering high-quality education that is so valuable in improving patient outcomes.
What do you like about working at CSDS?
The diversity of the team at CSDS. I am lucky enough to work with people from various geographical, gender, cultural, and professional backgrounds. I love the discussions I have with different perspectives, and they often open my eyes to opportunities that I would not have considered.
Why are you passionate about healthcare simulation?
I watched a presentation by a learned colleague not so long ago. She speculated that simulation was an excellent teaching tool, but maybe the reason it worked was that it attracted a particular type of person, people who are broad-minded, willing to take risks and challenge dogma. I think this is what makes me passionate about simulation. Of course, I love it as pedagogy, but I like it better because of the people it attracts.
