Exercise Cumpston 06 was Australia’s largest ever health exercise and was one of the first major exercises on pandemic influenza conducted in any country.

The four-day live simulation exercise was held in October 2006. The exercise simulated the arrival of an international flight carrying sick passengers, the emergence of the pandemic in the community and trialled the health system’s capacity to contain and manage a pandemic. Commonwealth, state and territory governments, medical associations, medical colleges and a range of non-government and private sector organisations participated in the exercise.

The exercise showed that Australia’s pandemic response plans and preparations are sound and that, should a pandemic emerge, Australia’s health system is well placed to respond effectively. There are also areas for refinement and enhancement identified including crisis and communications coordination, information systems and the sustainability of response.