NRH ED Symposium 2025, Solomon Islands
OPHA Board Member, Dr Matt Bray was based in Honiara, Solomon Islands for 6 months at the National Referral Hospital, working alongside local doctors in the emergency department.
Partnering closely with Patrick Toito'ona, Deputy Director of the Emergency Department, Matt focused on easing pressure points by collaborating and strengthening systems - always with local leadership at the centre.
"During my time at the National Referral Hospital, I've seen a cohort of doctors and nurses who are incredibly hardworking, resilient and passionate about providing excellent care to their patients... and it's been really inspiring to me."
His volunteer experience is a powerful example of what locally led partnership looks like in action.
Video credit: Australian Volunteers Program
During this time, Dr Matt Bray alongside his Australian Volunteers Program colleagues, were able to bring the inaugural National Referral Hospital Emergency Department (NRH ED) Symposium 2025 to life for medical and nursing leaders in Honiara.
“The room was full: not just with people, but with pride, curiosity, humour and a shared passion to move beyond business as usual and advance our life-saving work for the people of the Solomon Islands. Our multidisciplinary teams moved through talks and exercises on personality types and their impact on teamwork and collaboration, patient experience, improving communication (closed loop, graded assertiveness and OK-STOP for debriefing), rational prescribing and antimicrobial resistance. The level of engagement and joy was incredible.”
The Oceania Pacific Health Association was proud to support this inaugural symposium as a major sponsor. We also acknowledge Team Medical Supplies for donating pulse oximeters for attendees — vital tools that will immediately improve patient monitoring and safety across the hospital.
Support also came across the seas with generous heartwarming affirmation videos by Dr. Saia Ma'u Piukala and AVI alumni including Rob Mitchell, Donna Mills, Dr Nick Tayler and Gane Simbe.
This symposium showcased what makes NRH ED special: skill, resilience, and a spirit of care and community!
Courtesy: Dr Matt Bray / Australian Volunteers Program
