13 November 2005
Australian Defence Force medical team deploys to Pakistan

An Australian Defence Force medical team began to deploy into Pakistan on 11-12 November 2005 to provide vital health care assistance as part of the Australian Government's relief assistance to Pakistan following earthquakes on 8 October.

The team comprises about 140 personnel, including a command element, aviation detachment, logistics and communications.

Four Black Hawk helicopters will deploy to provide essential transport and support tasks around the remote town of Dhanni, about 20km northeast of Muzaffarabad.

The helicopters will give the medical team the ability to provide assistance to remote regional communities, which have limited road access, hampered by difficult terrain and harsh winter weather.

The ADF team will establish central medical facility in Dhanni. The team will have the ability to disperse three separate mobile medical groups from this central hub into the neighbouring region.

The Black Hawk detachment is primarily from the Australian Army 5th Aviation Regiment, based in Townsville. Most of the health and support personnel are drawn from the Army logistic support force based at Randwick Barracks, Sydney.

The medical team is being supplemented by an Air Force primary health care team from Richmond, New South Wales, and other personnel drawn from a range of units across Australia. The team will include Reserve personnel.

20051111adf8239682_0004 Flight Sergeant Trevor Amos confers with colleagues on board a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 707, heading to Pakistan with an Australian Defence Force medical team to provide humanitarian assistance in earthquake-affected areas. (Date taken: 11 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051111adf8239682_0083 Australian soldiers on board a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 707, heading to Pakistan to provide humanitarian assistance in earthquake-affected areas. (Date taken: 11 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051111adf8239682_0087 Flight Lieutenant Ben Goering on board a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 707 as it carries some of the 140 Australian soldiers to assist in humanitarian aid in Pakistan. (Date taken: 11 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051111adf8239682_0091 Flight Engineer Warrant Officer Stuart Matthews on board a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 707 as it carries some of the 140 Australian soldiers to assist in humanitarian aid in Pakistan. (Date taken: 11 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20051111adf8239682_0098 Flight Engineer Warrant Officer Stuart Matthews on board a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 707 as it carries some of the 140 Australian soldiers to assist in humanitarian aid in Pakistan. (Date taken: 11 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20051111adf8239682_0105 Regimental Sergeant Major Michelle White (right) talks to soldiers aboard a RAAF Boeing 707 flying to Pakistan to provide humanitarian aid in earthquake-damaged areas. (Date taken: 11 November 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res