Volunteering at the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea in 2015 was a "real eye-opener" for Wollongong paramedic Mark McCarthy, but he didn't hesitate to sign up for the upcoming Games in Samoa.
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Tasked four years ago to treat injured athletes in Port Moresby, Mr McCarthy didn't expect to wind up treating other patients in that city's main hospital's emergency department.
So he knows to expect the unexpected when he joins a team of Australian paramedics, nurses and allied health professionals in the Samoan capital of Apia over the next few weeks.
He'll be joined by four other Illawarra professionals including fellow paramedic Carol Bond, registered nurse Narelle Wood and physiotherapists Mikaela Heilman and Casey Williams at the Games from July 7 to 20.
"In PNG we'd be dropping athletes off to the hospital for treatment, and find ourselves dragged to the emergency department to assist with other patients," Mr McCarthy said.
"Due to limited resources they just needed another pair of hands, and we found ourselves helping out with patients who'd suffered cardiac arrests or burns - I even helped out with a birth and a stabbing. It's definitely an eye-opener."
Mr McCarthy, managing director of Wollongong First Aid, and the four other local health professionals will volunteer for the Emergency Medical Service at the 2019 Pacific Games.
About 3500 athletes from 24 nations will compete in 26 sports in Apia. Australia made its debut at the Port Moresby Games, and at Samoa our athletes will take part in a range of events including athletics, beach volleyball and judo.
"Samoa has had just 12 months to prepare for the Games after Tonga announced it could no longer afford to host them," Mr McCarthy said. "So the Emergency Medical Service set up for the PNG Games is assisting Samoa, and invited me to again assist in setting up the private ambulance service.
"Mainly we're there to help the athletes deal with the usual range of sporting injuries such as sprains and strains, but there can be more serious complications.
"For instance in PNG the tropical environment meant that one athlete's small cut turned into a serious infection. It's the challenges of the unknown that make it a great opportunity to practice our skills in a very different environment."
Ms Wood, a clinical nurse specialist in paediatrics at Wollongong Hospital, is also excited to share her experience, skills and knowledge in her first medical volunteering effort.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," she said. "It'll make me step outside my comfort zone and think on my feet."
