1 HB provides frontline health support to Australian Defence Force personnel at home and on operations. It compromises of a highly skilled workforce that at short notice is able to provide critical mission capabilities, including preventative services, primary health, pre-hospital care and other allied health services in remote, hostile and austere environments. The unit is comprised of General Se
rvice Officers, Military Doctors, Nurses, Medical Technicians (with paramedic and enrolled nursing qualifications), Physiotherapists, Pharmacists, Dentists, Dental Assistants, Psychologists, Physical Training Instructors and Environmental Health personnel. This highly trained and dedicated Army workforce provides the following health support services:
• Primary health care
• First aid / combat first aid
• Triage
• Resuscitation
• Stabilisation
• Evacuation
• On-route care
• Casualty staging
• Patient holding
• Rehabilitation / reconditioning
• Physical training support
• Field pharmacy services
• Psychology support
• Dental support
• Environmental health
1 HB has its historical roots dating back to Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War. A year later, 8th Field Ambulance took over from 2nd Field Ambulance. Another year on, 1 April 1968, 1st Australian Field Hospital was raised and took over the Australian military hospital at Vang Tau from 8th Field Ambulance. In December 1971 the unit returned to Australia and was located at Manunda Lines, Ingleburn in NSW. At this time, the unit name was changed to the 1st Field Hospital (1 FD Hosp). In January 1996, 1 FD Hosp was relocated to the Holsworthy Army Barracks in Sydney. On 16 August 2000, 1 FD Hosp underwent another name change to the 1st Health Support Battalion (1 HSB). On 1 November 2011 the essence of 1 HSB changed dramatically when, as part of the Army Health Support Force Modernisation, it became the 1st Close Health Battalion. Our role was transformed from field hospital operations to pre-hospital operations, becoming Army’s only deployable frontline health and emergency pre-hospital care battalion. Consisting of a headquarters and three Close Health Companies (CHC), the deployable company’s were are a consolidation of the traditional integral and second-line health assets located within the Army’s three Combat Brigades. The company naming conventions align to those of the 2nd, 8th and 11th Field Ambulances, with each company located in proximity to one of the three Combat Brigades – Darwin / Adelaide (1st Brigade); Townsville (3rd Brigade); and Brisbane (7th Brigade). On the 1st December 2021, the 1st Close Health Battalion transferred the authority of it’s existing unit capability and its command authorities to the 1st Health Battalion. On the 17th January 2022, the 1st Health Battalion was officially added to Army’s Order of Battle. The unit’s history dating back to 1968 and its legacy namesake, the 1st Australian Field Hospital will be preserved as the 1st Close Health Battalion transforms to become the 1st Health Battalion. This has ensured that the unit’s identity and history is maintained, and continues to be carried well into the future. Members of the 1 HB have served on almost every Australian Defence Force Operation since Vietnam.
