The birth of maternity specific virtual reality training in outback Queensland

The North West Health and Hospital service has partnered with CQU, UniSC and Bundle of Rays to create an immersive and innovative virtual reality training program for staff working in remote locations across North West Queensland. The NWHHS is geographically vast and covers some 300, 000kms with only one birthing facility, Mt Isa which caters to up to 500 births per year. Women from remote locations are encouraged to relocate to the town of Mount Isa from their thirty-sixth week of pregnancy. Sometime women choose to not relocate, some women go into premature labour, significant weather events prevent them from relocating or they cannot relocate due to their own unique family situations. These complex realities sometimes result in an imminent birth or neonatal resuscitation within remote communities that often do not have a Midwife on staff.