ADF Health June 2008 - Volume 9 Number 1Unit ProfileHealth Services Wing
HSW is very proud of the history of the Wing and Air Force Health. This pride is reflected in the Wing’s crest and motto of Compassion, Skill and Courage. The McCarthy, Rowbottom, Jones award, which will be first presented in 2008, recognises outstanding contribution to operational Air Force Health. HSW commands 1 Air Transportable Health Squadron (Amberley with detachment at Townsville), 2 Air Transportable Health Squadron (Williamtown with detachment at Tindal), 3 Combat Support Hospital (Richmond with detachments at Darwin and Butterworth) and 4 Expeditionary Health Squadron (Edinburgh with detachments at Pearce, Wagga Wagga, Williams and East Sale). The headquarters at Amberley is the capability developer and manager for all of Air Force Health. To date there have been three Officers Commanding of the Wing. The inaugural OC, Group Captain Amanda Dines, set up the wing structure and function from 2002 until 2004. From 2005 to 2007, Group Captain Tracy Smart revised the structure and function of HSW and embarked on a number of exciting initiatives for Air Force Health. The current OC, from January 2008, is Group Captain Karen Leshinskas. Training. The Health Operational Conversion Unit delivers and develops training for Air Force Health. This training is currently developed at Amberley and delivered primarily at Richmond and Williams. In the long term, these training nodes will move to Amberley, realising benefits from economy of scale, and development and delivery being in the same location. Base Health Services. It is planned for Air Force Base Health Services to be standardised and coordinated at HSW. This is a coordination function that is still underresourced, and will be resolved in 2008. Logistics. There are exciting initiatives in the capability development area at present with the test and evaluation of the C-17 AME capability currently underway and concept approval for the procurement of two additional FAST schedules. Also under development are Air Force Health unit equipment entitlements. Group Captain Karen Leshinskas
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HEALTH SERVICES WING (HSW) commands all Air Force Health units and provides expeditionary health support, aeromedical evacuation and aerospace medicine support, either in support of Air Force units, or as standalone capability bricks. When not deployed, HSW units provide health support at their fixed home bases. The wing aims to deliver the right health capability, including the right balance of personnel with the right skills, and the right equipment, at the right place and at the right time.