Gory fake wounds, special effects, manikins equipped with artificial intelligence, and CGI-generated body parts might seem more suited to a Hollywood movie set than to a healthcare conference.

But they will be in abundance when the University of the Sunshine Coast hosts the annual SimGHOSTS (the Gathering of Healthcare Simulation Technology Specialists) international conference at its Engineering Learning Hub this week (from 27-29 June).

The conference will be the biggest of its kind in the world with more than 150 people attending, including clinicians, educators, academics, technicians and game developers.

SimGHOSTS is a US-based non-profit educational organisation that provides hands-on training, online resources, and community support for simulation technicians or those operating medical simulation technology.

This will be the organisation’s eighth conference, the fourth in Australia and the second at USC, which last hosted in 2014.

For this conference, it has collaborated with Simulation Australasia, the Australian Society for Simulation in Healthcare, and Serious Games Australia and New Zealand, which will stage its annual Serious Games Showcase and Challenge.

SimGHOSTS Executive Director Kirrian Steer said USC, with its world-class visualisation and simulation facilities, was an ideal place to host this important annual event.

“We're extremely excited to once again host our conference at the University of the Sunshine Coast,” she said.

“The fact we can take advantage of the state-of-the-art facilities at USC’s Engineering Learning Hub makes it all the more exciting for us. To stand alongside one of Australia's foremost simulation and visualisation facilities is truly a privilege.”

Ms Steer said the conference would highlight the use of technology and virtual environments in simulation programs and bring simulation professionals together to improve learner and patient outcomes.

“Just as we teach health professionals to work together in a team to achieve better outcomes for their patients, this event encourages healthcare simulation professionals to work together to achieve better outcomes for their learners,” she said.

Ms Steer said attendees would receive hands-on training in specialised subject areas, including virtual and augmented reality, and hear from a keynote speaker about the use of artificial intelligence in tracking student progress and tailoring learner experiences.

Media opportunities at the SimGHOSTS conference include:

• Wednesday 27 June, from 11am: Trade display exhibitors setting up (including New Zealand special effects company medicfx, and Mentone Educational with its AI-capable manikin that can have conversations and, with a camera in its eye, record what patients see.
• Wednesday 27 June, 1-5pm: Moulage – making fake wounds for simulation activities.

 - Terry Walsh