Our team
The PCH Simulation Team is a group of highly skilled and experienced staff who have a wealth of knowledge in the field of healthcare simulation, both in Australia and internationally.
Comprised of experts with diverse backgrounds and experience, our team brings a rich and dynamic perspective to every simulation. With years of hands-on experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating simulations, our team is well-equipped to develop realistic and effective simulation scenarios that meet the unique needs of our participants.
Our team's collaborative approach, coupled with their extensive understanding of simulation techniques and technologies, ensures that our simulations are engaging, impactful, and aligned with the desired learning outcomes.
Drawing on their deep expertise and vast international experience, the PCH Simulation Team is committed to delivering high-quality simulations that drive meaningful learning and enable our participants to achieve their learning goals.
Thomas Rawlings
Co-director of Simulation and Consultant Anaesthetist
Qualifications: MBBCh, FANZCA, FRCA
I have been involved in simulation training for over 15 years. I’ve established programs in the UK and Australia.
My interests mainly revolve around interprofessional team training in the acute medical environment.
I believe simulation is a vital tool for team training, systems change and improvements in quality and safety of patient care in a hospital setting.
Thomas Volkman
Co-Director of Simulation and Consultant General Paediatrician
Qualifications: FRACP, MBBS, B. Med Sci. MPHTM. Dip PaedID, Dip Allergy, Cert HealthProfEd
Dr Tom Volkman is a General Paediatrician and Medical Education Consultant.
He completed his paediatric training between PMH, RCH (Vic) and GOSH (UK). He has a Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare professionals' education (UWA) and has a strong interest in simulation education having completed training courses in Simulation Education in Queensland and Perth.
Dr Volkman has been the paediatric simulation lead at hospitals in QLD and WA and enjoys designing and delivering high fidelity simulation education experiences across a variety of disciplines.
Dr Volkman has also led low fidelity simulation activities in humanitarian settings.
Dr Katherine Wilson
Simulation Consultant
Qualifications: MBBS (Hons), FRACP (PEM)
Dr Katherine Wilson is a Paediatric Emergency Physician working in the Emergency Department and in Simulation Education at Perth Children’s Hospital.
Katherine has been involved in the education of medical students, nurses and junior doctors throughout her career.
She is has been an APLS instructor for over 10 years and completed the SIMStart course in 2019.
Yu Min Ong
Simulation Fellow
Qualifications: MBBS FRACP (General Paediatrics)
Yu Min has worked as a children’s doctor for over 10 years across multiple hospital sites in Western Australia having taken the scenic path to paediatric training (to spend time with his family).
As one of the PCH Simulation Fellows, he hopes to work with medical, nursing and allied health staff to make simulation education accessible, approachable and easier to navigate across all paediatric and subspecialty departments, including at outer-metropolitan and country hospitals.
Yu Min is a social (coffee) drinker but would never refuse a trek out of the hospital to grab a bubble tea.
Charlyne Lai
Simulation Fellow
Qualifications: MBBS
Dr Charlyne Lai is currently completing her general paediatric training in WA. She is locally trained through Perth Children’s Hospital and has worked across multiple hospital sites in the country, both metro and rural settings.
Charlyne hopes to gain experience in simulation and expand simulation education to non-tertiary hospitals, using it to engage various disciplines in the wider healthcare team.
Jodie Martin
Nurse Educator (Simulation)
Qualifications: MA (Clinical Education), MA (Midwifery), PG Cert (Emerg Nsg), PG Cert (Aeromedical Retrieval), PG Cert (Child, Adolescent & Family Health Nsg) , BA Sc (Nsg)
Jodie’s background is broad, with clinical experiences in adult and paediatric emergency, midwifery, prehospital and aeromedical retrieval. She has spent most of her career in regional, rural and isolated health care settings, along with many years in clinical education providing education and simulation for clinicians working in prehospital, aeromedical retrieval, rural and remote environments. In addition, she is an Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS) instructor.
Jodie’s clinical education interests include team training for small teams, with a particular focus on human factors and the detection and management of paediatric and neonatal emergencies in resource limited settings.
David Barrett
Simulation Educator Coordinator
Qualifications: RPN, RCN, Dip (Nursing), BA (Hons), HDip (Paediatric Nursing), GradDip (Paediatric Emergency Nursing)
Having worked for many years as a paediatric emergency nurse in both Ireland and Australia, David has witnessed firsthand the importance of effective teamwork and communication skills in improving patient outcomes and reducing medical errors. As a result, he is particularly interested in the transformative power of simulation-based learning and its use in education and training to improve Crisis Resource Management (CRM) skills.
David has been involved in the development and implementation of several innovative simulation programs and is committed to improving patient safety by empowering healthcare professionals with the tools they need to handle critical situations effectively.
Elena Aringo
Administrative Officer
Qualifications: MBA, BCom (Management Major)
Elena has 10 years’ experience in administrative roles with Child and Adolescent Community Health (CACH) supporting clinicians and child health nurses. She has demonstrated proficiency in all core office administration functions and has adapted the values of delivering sustainable health service to the community whilst maintaining confidentiality.
Elena also has a background in Financial Management and Knowledge Management from previous work in a government-owned and controlled corporation mandated to addressing developmental problems of local, national and international significance through the conduct of training, education and research in good governance and productivity improvement.
Jody Wallace
Nurse Educator (Simulation)
Qualifications: Bsc Nsg, Grad Cert (Anaesthetic and Post Anaesthetic Care Nursing)
Jody Wallace is a dedicated nurse with over a decade of experience in both Ireland and Australia, specialising in paediatric nursing across various settings including acute care, community care and post anaesthetic care (PACU).
With extensive experience in paediatric post anaesthetic care, Jody currently works as the Staff Development Nurse in PACU at PCH.
She has a strong passion for education, promoting teamwork and fostering effective communication to improve patient outcomes.
This has inspired an interest in utilising clinical simulation as a valuable training tool to enhance the skills and knowledge of healthcare teams