Our People in NSW
Operation Padang Assist - Dion Trevillion
The threat of disease and infection is high in the mountainous jungle region to the north of Padang City in West Sumatra following an earthquake on September 30th that devastated the region.
For a group of Australian Army medical personnel working at the Australian Defence Force Primary Health Care Facility, the threat is managed by Army Environmental Health Technician, Corporal (CPL) Dion Trevillion.
Explaining environmental health, CPL Trevillion said it is the study, assessment and control of occupational and environmental health threats.
“We’re seeing through the local patients the various health threats in the area such as Malaria, Dengue, and Chikungunya,” CPL Trevillion said.
From Toongabbie in Sydney, CPL Trevillion says he is enjoying working away from home in his deployed role supporting the earthquake relief effort.
“The role is great, nearly three weeks in the operation we have a good routine,” he said.
“In the lead up things were very busy implementing control measures and we still need to be sure everyone is keeping good hygiene routines.”
CPL Trevillion joined the Army in 2001 after working for eight years as a diamond setter.
“I wanted to work outdoors mainly, after spending so long working indoors under fluorescent lights,” he said.
“I’m really enjoying the experience and doing this job is fantastic.”
CPL Dion Trevillion is currently serving on Operation Padang Assist with the Australian Defence Force’s Joint Task Force 629. As part of the operation, Australian soldiers, sailors and airmen are working day and night to provide health care, engineering works, purified water, and to deliver aid supplies to the people of Padang and the surrounding areas of West Sumatra in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that recently rocked the Indonesian province.