NEXUS – Human Factors Training

Anthony Lock

Founding and Strategic Director NEXUS Program RPBG Royal Australian Air Force, Reserve Squadron Leader Pilot at No. 25 Squadron, Perth, Western Australia & Air Transport Pilot’s License holder – Boeing 737 Domestic and International Operations.

With over 6000 flying hours on various high-performance aircraft, Anthony has extensive experience within the aviation industry. During his 25 years in the RAAF, as an engineer and pilot, Anthony developed an expertise for working with high performing teams in demanding environments – leading and training teams in Human Performance for success.

During combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and humanitarian/peacekeeping missions throughout Asia, Anthony saw immense value in Human Factors awareness and continues this learning in the civilian airline industry.

Anthony gave up an airline career to work full time at the Royal Perth Bentley Group as the Director of Human Performance Training and leads the Team Development & Nexus Programmes. He is passionate about working with people to achieve their best and continues his studies in Human Performance and leadership development while working with various healthcare safety groups around the country.

Dr Jon Spiro, MBBS BSc MD MRCP FRACP

Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Royal Perth Bentley Group
Founding and Strategic Director NEXUS Program RPBG
Director of Catheterisation Laboratory, RPH
Clinical Senior Lecturer, University of Western Australia

During his medical training and working as a Consultant, Jon has built up a special interest in leadership and teamwork within healthcare groups and organisations. Through working with partners from other industries, such as military and aviation, Jon has developed a particular focus on improving patient safety and clinical efficiency.

In addition to working as a fulltime Interventional Cardiologist and Senior Clinical Lecturer at UWA, Jon is also the Clinical Lead for the Team Development Programme at RPBG.

This initiative works with healthcare teams to improve teamwork, leadership, and ultimately patient safety while equipping healthcare workers with specialist training in communication, situational awareness, threat and error management and decision-making.

Dr Thy Do, BSc (Hons) MBBCh (Hons) FRCA FANZCA
Consultant Anaesthetist, Royal Perth Bentley Group
Operational Director NEXUS Program RPBG
Secretary of SAS (Safe Airway Society), Australia and New Zealand
Founding Director Ready, Steady, Gas! SIM A Human Factors Course, UK
Simulation Instructor (ALS2, SimStart WA, ATTAAC)

After graduating from Cardiff University, Thy completed her anaesthetic training in the West Midlands, UK. Her passions include airway management and simulation training with a focus on human factors. She developed and implemented a regional human factors training day in the UK for senior anaesthetists, blending HF and simulation based on the RCoA ANTS framework. Thy is faculty for WA Department of Health pre-approved Train The Trainer (TTT) simulation instructor course; SimStart and faculty for national simulation course ATTAAC (Advanced Technical and Teamwork training for Anaesthetic Airway Crises). She is also a formal instructor in CICO (Can't Intubate, Can't Oxygenate) Rescue techniques, teaching at airway workshops and TTT courses on a national and international basis. 

Thy continues her extensive involvement in regular inter-professional team training locally and nationally. She is actively working with other like-minded individuals to further integrate the science of Human Factors into Healthcare seeing the benefit for both patients and staff. Thy is a member of the Clinical Human Factors Group, UK and Healthcare Ergonomics SIG Committee for the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Australia (HFESA).

"Awareness is the first step to improve our Human Performance as human factors (HF) can neither be avoided nor eliminated. I have been subject myself to the pitfalls and fallibility of HF affording me lessons which have been both sobering but extremely valuable. My friend's sister, a trainee doctor driving home from night shifts was involved in a serious car crash and suffered a brain injury with serious consequences. This is just one example where I realised how important managing HF is. We need to understand ourselves and the team around us. What strategies can we adopt to better manage the personal and professional challenges we face at work? My understanding of HF continues to deepen as time goes by. Healthcare is complex. The more of us in the team with a shared language and understanding, the better equipped we are to care for ourselves, our colleagues and most importantly, our patients. I hope you will jump on board with us!"

Dr Adam Howard, MBBS FCICM
Consultant Intensivist, Royal Perth Bentley Group and Armadale Health Service
Consultant Hyperbaric Physician, Fiona Stanley Hospital
NEXUS Facilitator
Simulation Instructor

Adam’s interests include simulation training, airway management in the critical care environment, tracheostomy care, staff wellness and mentoring. Adam has developed a number of inter-professional simulation courses within RPBG.

Over the past few years I have grown increasingly interested in non-technical skills within healthcare. Patient safety is paramount; working in high acuity areas throughout my career, I have seen how stressful situations can change the inter-professional workings of ‘the team’. Focusing on Human Factors helps to strengthen and unify the ‘team’ approach of caring for patients and supports staff wellbeing. The NEXUS course is a great introduction into the multi-faceted understanding of human factors, and is applicable to all healthcare workers. I really enjoy meeting the diverse participant groups, listening to their voices and experiences. It continues to deepen my understanding and passion for HF in healthcare, bringing about positive changes for patients and staff alike.

Staff Development Nurse, Intensive Care Unit, Royal Perth Bentley Group
NEXUS Facilitator in Training

Erin has 20 years of nursing experience within regional, remote and tertiary level hospitals, with a primary focus on critical care. Erin works within RPH ICU as a clinical nurse and a staff development nurse with an interest in interprofessional education, simulation training and critical care delirium.

“Within my dual roles, I develop and encourage interprofessional education for Intensive Care Staff. There is a powerful force associated with an effective team, one where the synergy of teamwork provides best outcomes for healthcare professionals, patients and their families. The critical care environment is frequently an unfamiliar and confronting place to work. Provision of HF education allows the interprofessional team to develop a team culture that supports all level of staff. Within my experience of developing and facilitating multiple interprofessional education sessions, I have discovered that incorporating HF education is essential to providing holistic health professional education. I am excited to be part of the NEXUS team and provide HF training for all healthcare professionals.”