ACTION™ (Acute Critical and Threatening Incidents Occurring Needlessly) is a multi-professional program to train staff in recognising patient deterioration and act appropriately in treating the acutely unwell.

The course is designed to help ward-based doctors, nurses and allied health professionals manage deteriorating patients.

Course structure

The ACTION course is a hybrid learning program that consists of online and on-site learning workshops.

It uses a structured and prioritised system of patient assessment and management to enable a pre-emptive approach to critical illness.

Program benefits

By attending an ACTION course, candidates will develop skills to:

  • recognise the 'at risk' patient 
  • identify organ impairment or failure at an early stage 
  • initiate simple treatment required to prevent the cascade of multi-organ failure
  • improve communication skills required for further care

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Search for an upcoming ACTION course on Humanitix or browse our other RMH events.

Course history

Originally developed in 1999 by Professor Gary Smith and colleagues at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, ACTION™ (ALERT™ in UK and Europe), has run successfully since 2000 and is currently delivered in over 100 centres internationally.

The Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) has been granted Centre of Excellence status and is the only hospital in Australia that facilitates the ACTION course.

Contact us
Melbourne Clinical Simulation Centre
Address
The RMH Parkville
Ground Level West
300 Grattan St, Parkville, Victoria
Last updated 16 April 2026