Our history
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Established in 1997 as independent academic units, we have grown substantially into organisations, working in collaboration, with strong corporate management and governance systems; a large network of experts and an experienced, longstanding core team.
Clinical Skills Division
The Clinical Skills Division, previously known as the Northern Clinical Skills Centre (NCSC), was established as a suite of four clinical skills laboratories and an office for the purpose of providing clinical skills training to medical students undertaking the University of Sydney’s Graduate Medical Program.
It’s two principals at that time, Dr Andrew Ellis, orthopaedic surgeon, as Director, and Dr Thomas Hugh, hepatobiliary surgeon, as Postgraduate Coordinator, seeing the relevance of synthetic learning environments to postgraduate training program, obtained a number of laparoscopic towers for laparoscopic and arthroscopic training courses for surgeons and surgical trainees, in addition to a wide range of virtual part trainers for clinical skills.
In 2002 the Centre moved to refurbished facilities on campus, adding two large "wet" training laboratories, a seminar room and modern audiovisual equipment. Over the ensuing years, it further developed its facilities and services, enabling activity in surgical training and skills workshop to grow. New curriculum modules were developed in a broad range of clinical skills for medical students, junior medical staff and surgical trainees.
An Anatomy Licence was granted in 2005 for anatomical and surgical training and ethics licences are managed for laparoscopic and endoscopic training on live porcine models.
In 2000, approximately 500 people were trained by the NCSC - today this number has more than trebled. The participants range from medical students to consultants, nurses, allied health staff and individuals from the private sector.
Associate Professor Peter Cosman succeeded Dr Ellis as director. AP Cosman is a gastrointestinal and pancreatic surgeon with research qualifications in simulation and skills training.
Simulation Division
The Simulation division, formerly named the Sydney Medical Simulation Centre (SMSC), was the first synthetic learning centre in Australia to house high fidelity patient simulators and specialise in immersive training with patient simulators, scenario-based learning and debriefing. Commencing with one simulator, the division now houses nearly one dozen. The growth of the centre reflects the ongoing contribution of many individuals and groups, who have provided expertise, time, equipment and funds.
The SMSC was the brainchild of Professor Michael Cousins who introduced the first patient simulator into Australia, with the assistance of a grant from Abbott Australasia and CAE Simulations (MedSim EagleTM). The centre operated for the first five years as a unit of the Department of Anaesthesia, Royal North Shore Hospital, before restructuring into the Health Workforce Directorate of the Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service (NSCCAHS).
The centre received funding support between 1997 and 2000 from the Pain Management Research Institute (PMRI) (formerly Centre for Anaesthesia and Pain Management Research (CAPMR)) and from NSW Health between 2000 and 2003. The centre has been self-funded since 2003. NSCCAHS is a major client and Abbott Australasia, the centre’s principal sponsor has supported the centre since 1997 via an educational grant.
Initially located in West Wing, RNSH, the SMSC underwent its first major refurbishment in 2002, and in September 2008, it relocated, with the NSCS, to the purpose designed suites it currently inhabits in the Kolling Building.
The SMSC has had two directors: Dr Richard Morris (1997-2000) and Clinical Associate Professor Leonie Watterson (2000-present).
