An update from the Executive
We hope everyone is looking after themselves and their colleagues.
The ACEM PEM Network Executive team have been continuing to work hard, with a particular focus on some key objectives for this year. We want to ascertain what the perceived barriers are for completing PEM training, particularly if obtaining a PICU term was a hurdle for some trainees. We partnered with the CJCT to create a survey, which you should have all received, to help identify these barriers. Our thanks go out to those of you that completed it!
We hope to build from here by adding some specific PEM questions to the ACEM annual survey at the end of the year. One focus we have identified for future surveys is how we can encourage PEM trainees to live and work in rural settings, thereby giving PEM a broader reach and benefit a larger number of communities. It is our hope that if we can identify the issues PEM trainees are facing, as well as their career aspirations, we can have a better platform to advocate for future PEM trainees and promote the PEM community.
The PEM Network Executive team continue to organise and host two ACEM PEM webinars each year, with the next occurring this September. Details below.
If you have topics you would like to hear about in future webinars, or if you have other areas you would like us to advocate for, then please feel free to contact us or post on the ACEM PEMN network forum.
Please join the PEMN network, if you have not done so already.
If you are part of the network, then you can find the online PEMN network forum by
- Sign in to your ACEM account
- Click educational resources at the top of the page
- Then go to networks at the top of page, and select paediatric
ACEM PEM webinar series
The next instalment in our PEM webinar series, is a focus on adolescents in the ED.
Wednesday 30 September
3:00 pm AEST | 2:30 pm NT/SA | 1:00 pm AWST | 5:00 pm NZST
This is an often overlooked cohort when we talk about ‘paediatrics’, but they form a large part of our patient group and present us with significantly different challenges than the young child. Furthermore, our interactions with them and the support we offer them can have long lasting impacts.
We will hear from Dr Kate Bradman (RACP PEM) and Dr Nicolene Shipton (Head of Adolescent Medicine) from Perth Children’s Hospital. They will talk about the outcomes and challenges of running an e-HEEADSSS program, and why identifying and addressing issues adolescents face, when they present to the paediatric emergency department, is so important. We will also hear about the benefits of having a smoking cessation programme and an alcohol and drug guideline in the paediatric hospital, with an outpatient service, which the emergency clinicians can refer to, to support these young adults after discharge.
Upcoming PEM events
ACEM ASM
22-26 November 2026- Perth
- Neonatal skills workshop Sunday 22 November (morning)
- Paediatric skills workshop Sunday 22 November (afternoon)
- Paediatric talks throughout the conferences
Topic of interest – RSV vaccination outcomes
With thanks to Professor Chris Blyth- ID Consultant at Perth Children’s Hospital, Head of Wesfarmers Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, The Kids Research Institute Australia, Prof at UWA and Clinical Microbiologist.
With many Australian and New Zealand hospitals currently managing the expected winter surge in RSV presentations, members may be interested in recent local literature highlighting the progress of passive immunisation strategies in preventing significant morbidity and hospitalisation from RSV in paediatric patients.
RSV vaccination is currently recommended for all pregnant women from 28 weeks gestation in Australia. It is currently available only for privately funded individuals in New Zealand. Monoclonal antibodies such as Palivizumab and nirsevimab are used to provide immune protection from RSV in infants. They are available in Australia and New Zealand for infants with higher risk of severe disease from RSV.
A recently published study (link below) has demonstrated the effectiveness and population impact of Australia's mother–infant RSV prevention program. As reported by Dr Ushma Wadia and colleagues from the PAEDS-FluCAN network, infants born to mothers vaccinated against RSV had an 81.5% lower risk of RSV-related hospitalisation than infants of unvaccinated mothers. Similarly, infants who received nirsevimab had an 89.6% lower risk of RSV-related hospitalisation than those who were unimmunised. Overall, RSV hospitalisations among infants aged <3 months fell by almost 50% in 2025.
Checking the maternal RSV immunisation status of infants presenting to the emergency department and identifying those who have missed or are eligible for monoclonal antibody treatments remain important opportunities to help keep children out of hospital in the winter season. Be sure to check your local guidelines for more information and ongoing developments.
Impact and Effectiveness of Australia's 2025 Hybrid RSV Immunisation Program: Results from the PAEDS-FluCAN Network by Ushma Wadia, Peter Richmond, Philip Britton, Jeremy P. Carr, Julia E. Clark, Nigel W. Crawford, Te-Yu Hung, Helen S. Marshall, Kristine Macartney, Nick Wood, Brendan McMullan, Hannah Moore, Paul Effler, Allen Cheng, Christopher Blyth :: SSRN
Papers of interest
PROMPT Bolus
Balanced Fluid or 0.9% Saline in Children Treated for Septic Shock – PubMed
Vasoactive medications for sepsis in children (SENTINEL study)
Vasoactive drug use in children with community acquired septic shock in Australia and New Zealand – PubMed
IV fluid use in children with sepsis (another SENTINEL paper)
IV bolus, maintenance and medication carrier fluid in children with community-acquired sepsis: a multicentre cohort study – PubMed
What do we do with raised ketones?
Paediatric Ketone Measurement and Intervention in Non-Diabetic Patients in Australasian Emergency Departments: A PREDICT Clinician Survey – PubMed
Persistent vomiting in children with gastro
Persistent Vomiting Among Children With Acute Gastroenteritis: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial – PubMed
Achievable benchmarks of care in PEM
Achievable Benchmarks of Care in Pediatric Emergency Departments – PubMed