RBWH Intensive Care Specialist promoted to new role in the Australian Navy

Anthony Holley in centre at a recent ceremony in Canberra

RBWH Intensive Care Services Senior Staff Specialist, Principal Consultant Trauma to the Surgeon General, Australian Defence Force, A/Professor Anthony Holley (centre) pictured at a recent ceremony in Canberra.

RBWH Intensive Care Services Senior Staff Specialist, Principal Consultant Trauma to the Surgeon General, Australian Defence Force, A/Professor Anthony Holley has recently been promoted to Commodore by the Chief of Navy, VADM Mark Hammond AO, RAN at a ceremony in Canberra.

The Principal Consultant Role is designed as an advisory position to the Surgeon General, Australian Defence Force on matters related to trauma care capability and force generation in Defence. It provides a genuine opportunity to engage all trauma care providers, both within Defence and within the civilian environment to maximise interoperability.

A/Professor Holley said he was excited to be taking on the role alongside his current position as a Senior Staff Specialist in the RBWH ICU.

“Trauma care is a truly multidisciplinary activity and engaging all who are interested and have expertise is important in generating the best possible outcomes for injured patients,” he said.

“My parallel civilian and military careers have been complementary in developing the required technical skills, as well as a strategic vision to assist in maximising trauma care delivery.

“RBWH has always been incredibly supportive of military service and have released me many times over the past 15 years to serve in the Persian Gulf, two rotations in Afghanistan, a border protection rotation, four Iraq rotations, to serve in Operation Bushfire Assist and as part of the Operation COVID-19 Assist Taskforce.

“I have always been incredibly grateful for my colleague’s willingness to support me to serve. The ability to share clinical skills and clinical leadership across Queensland Health and Defence is mutually beneficial.”

RBWH supports a significant number of healthcare professionals from a wide range of disciplines to serve across all three Defence services and was a finalist in the Australian Defence Force Employer Support Awards, 2023, recognising the hospital’s ongoing contribution.