A/Prof. Mary Wyer1,2,3, Dr Jaimie Henry1,4, Clin A/Prof. Matthew O'Sullivan1,3,5,6, Dr Su-Yin Hor7, Professor Gwendolyn L. Gilbert3, A/Prof. Nicole Gilroy1,3,5,6, Kathryn Green1, Jaisa Kuriakose1,8, Nikki Lennox1, Dr Varun Moorthy1,5, Professor Ramon Shaban1,2,3, Dr Patricia E. Ferguson1,3,5,6
1NSW Biocontainment Centre, Westmead, Australia, 2Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia, 3Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia, 4Nepean Intensive Care, Nepean Hospital, Kingswood, Australia, 5Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia, 6Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia, 7University of Technology, Ultimo, Sydney, Australia, 8Sydney Children's Hospital Network, Westmead, Australia
Biography:
Mary Wyer is Associate Professor of Practice (Biocontainment) at the Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sydney. Her role, established in partnership with the NSW Biocontainment Centre at the Westmead Hospital Precinct, focuses on advancing biocontainment models through education, research capacity building, and collaborative clinical research.
Abstract:
Introduction
The New South Wales Biocontainment Centre (NBC) is a specialist service designed to prepare for and respond to high-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs), including viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHF). Although Australia has not yet encountered a confirmed case of an HCID VHF, proactive preparedness is critical. In March 2025, we conducted a 24-hour full-scale simulation to test our bio-preparedness and explore ways to enhance patient and staff experience.
Methods
We used video-reflexive methods to examine two aspects of readiness: (1) testing operational, clinical, and infection prevention and control protocols; and (2) identifying unknown or emergent issues affecting staff and patients. A stable inpatient volunteer consented to participate in the simulation. A multidisciplinary team, rostered on an 8hr–8hr–10hr shift model, enacted biocontainment protocols while delivering the patient’s care. Their practices and key tasks were video-recorded and classified according to their relevance to the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards. Multiple group reflexive sessions, held between March and July 2025, enabled simulation participants and stakeholders to view the footage and explore real-time practices, generating rich, experiential insights. Each session focused on one NSQHS standard. Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed using NVivo.
Results
Focusing on NSQHS Standard 3: Preventing and Controlling Infections, this presentation reports key findings, including challenges related to compliance with the 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene, PPE comfort and dexterity, communication barriers, heat stress, and waste management.
Conclusion
Video-reflexivity enabled identification of latent safety threats and supported collaborative, multi-stakeholder practice improvement and shared ownership of bio-preparedness efforts.