From Mine Sites to Motorsport – and Now the Conference Stage
by Chelsea Ardley
Most people across Corporate Protection Australia Health & Medical (CPAHM) know Nicole Morris as a Field Contract Coordinator supporting Health & Medical operations across our sites. When she’s not coordinating things behind the scenes, she can often be found back in uniform working as a Paramedic across mining and construction projects.
Outside of CPAHM, however, there’s another side to her paramedic career, one that involves race cars, racetracks, and occasionally making clinical decisions with millions of people watching.
Nicole recently took to the stage at RESPOND26 to present on a field that has been a significant part of her life for almost 15 years: motorsport medicine.
She first joined a Motorsport Medical Team as a volunteer while still a student paramedic. Nearly 15 years later, she is still a regular trackside presence at motorsport events across the country.
Motorsport presents a unique clinical environment. Incidents unfold rapidly, conditions can change within seconds, and critical decisions often need to be made immediately, sometimes while events are being broadcast live to a national audience.
One of Nicole’s favourite roles is working in the Medical Chase Car. During the opening lap, the vehicle follows the racing field around the circuit, positioning the medical team to respond quickly during one of the highest-risk phases of any race.
A close second is spending time in pit lane, watching the crews at work. Seeing a race car arrive, refuel, change tyres, and return to the track in a matter of seconds is something that, according to Nicole, never loses its appeal, even after nearly 15 years.
The parallels between motorsport and healthcare are surprisingly strong. Success depends on highly coordinated teams, clear communication, and the ability to make sound decisions under pressure. Small actions can have significant consequences, and every team member plays an important role.
At RESPOND26, Nicole shared her experiences from the trackside environment and explored how preparation, teamwork, and decision-making influence clinical performance when time is limited and the stakes are high.
The presentation also highlighted the diversity of modern paramedicine, demonstrating how skills developed in one environment can be successfully applied in another, from remote mining and construction sites during the week to racetracks on the weekend.
And the conference circuit isn’t over yet.
In late September, Nicole will take her motorsport medicine presentation to the Australian Tactical Medical Conference (ATMC26), continuing to share insights from this unique area of practice with healthcare professionals from across Australia.
From mine sites to racetracks and conference stages, it’s been a varied year, and a great example of where a career in paramedicine can lead.