A major emergency exercise at North Head in Manly placed first responders inside a realistic mass casualty scenario, testing how crews would work together if a serious incident unfolded in a crowded public setting.
The large-scale training exercise, led by NSW Ambulance, was held at the former School of Artillery on Thursday, 21 May. Known as Exercise Paratus, the drill brought together ambulance crews, medical teams, control centre staff and emergency service partners for a full-day test of coordination, communication and clinical response under pressure.
The scenario centred on a simulated incident in which a vehicle had ploughed through a crowded outdoor market. Responders were confronted with multiple casualties, manikins representing deceased persons, a trapped passenger, smoke, crowd pressure and a simulated confrontation involving the driver.
Manly Training Scene Built Around Realistic Pressure
The North Head site was set up to reflect the confusion of a major emergency. Volunteer patients and paramedicine students acted as casualties, with realistic-looking injuries prepared through professional make-up. Some called for help, others appeared shocked or searched for loved ones, while responders worked to assess injuries and establish priorities.
Two vehicles were placed on the parade ground to make the scene more realistic. Smoke was used to simulate a fire, adding another challenge for crews already managing patient care, access issues and crowd control.
St John Ambulance NSW responders began triage as the first simulated patients were assessed. As more emergency vehicles arrived, access to the scene became a key concern, with fire crews needing to move closer to the damaged vehicles before working to reach a trapped patient.
The exercise tested treatment and triage for 25 simulated patients, including five represented as deceased. It also tested how different emergency teams managed limited space, changing priorities and the pressure of a fast-moving scene.
Crews Repeat Exercise To Apply Immediate Lessons
The drill was run twice across the day, with morning and afternoon sessions allowing staff to rotate and apply lessons from the first round. After the initial exercise, participating teams held a debrief to review what worked well and where improvements could be made.
The scene was then reset before the exercise was repeated. The second session gave crews the chance to adjust their approach, including broader use of available personnel in first aid treatment and patient support.
A further element was added when a Toll NSW Ambulance Rescue Helicopter arrived overhead, bringing an aeromedical team into the scenario. Its arrival added complexity to an already crowded and active exercise area.
North Head Exercise Focuses On Readiness
NSW Ambulance led the exercise with support from police, fire, rural fire, SES and St John Ambulance teams. Medical observers and support organisations also assessed how a major incident could affect their own response roles.
The purpose of the exercise was to strengthen how responders work together when time, space and information are limited. Crews followed standard emergency procedures as they would during a real incident, while volunteer patients helped create a changing and realistic training environment.
NSW Ambulance regularly trains with emergency and health partners to prepare for complex incidents. Exercises such as the one at North Head allow responders to refine communication, practise clinical decision-making and build working relationships before those skills are needed in a real emergency.
The exercise highlighted how preparation for a serious public safety incident depends on coordinated action across multiple teams. The scenario was simulated, but the training focused on the real pressures responders may face when large numbers of people need urgent help.
Published 29-May-2026
