The Franklin River rescue: Teamwork and trust in wild Tasmania
Please join us on Thursday 12 November 2026 for an evening with Dr Jo Kippax as he recounts the incredible Franklin River rescue of Valdas Bieliauskas.
Welcome
In November 2024, an expert Lithuanian rafter became entrapped in swiftly moving water in one of the wildest and most remote rivers of the world. The rescue effort quickly escalated in scale and complexity to become one of the most complicated and challenging in Tasmania’s history. Hundreds of people and many agencies worked together to get Valdas Bieliauskas out alive before the river levels rose or hypothermia claimed his life. Over 20 hours later the only remaining option involved an underwater amputation and a race against the clock to extract a critically unwell man in cardiac arrest from one of the remotest corners of the planet. A story about Valdas, the rescue, the people, the teamwork and what could possibly go wrong in this scenario. Join us to hear Dr Jo Kippax recount this incredible rescue.
Venue
This meeting will be held at High Courtyard, Hotel Realm, 18 National Cct, Barton.
Program
6.30pm – Canapes and drinks
7pm – Presentation by Dr Jorian Kippax
8.30pm – Q&A
9pm – Close
Invited speakers
Dr Jorian (Jo) Kippax is an emergency medicine specialist employed as a retrieval consultant with Ambulance Tasmania’s Critical Care and Retrieval Service (AT-CCR) and a trauma specialist at the Royal Hobart Hospital. Jo also an adjunct professor with the University of Tasmania lecturing in resuscitation procedures, a reservist officer (LT COL) in the Australian Defence Force, a team leader with AUSMAT disaster relief, and is a medical advisor to the Tasmanian Police Search and Rescue unit.
In 2025 Jo was awarded the Lithuanian “Life Saving Cross” for his role in the rescue of a Lithuanian Rafter in the Franklin River and is the 2026 Australian of the Year for Tasmania. Jo was formerly a keen expedition mountaineer and was awarded New Zealand mountaineer of the year in 2005 and now enjoys sharing the Tasmanian wilderness with his family.
Registration
Registration is now open, please register online with your college ID.
All other delegates including allied health members and other medical specialties can also register online. Please select “Create Account” at the top of the page and enter your details. Once you are set up, search for the event and register. You will also be able to use your ID number and password to register for future meetings. If you require assistance, please contact us.
Registration includes drinks and canapes prior to the presentations.
Full registration: $66.00
Allied health professionals/trainees: Complimentary
Cancellation Policy - Refunds will only be provided for cancellations advised in writing prior to the registration close date. Cancellations after the close date still incur venue and catering costs and therefore can’t be refunded.
All registration fees are quoted in Australian dollars and inclusive of GST. Please visit the ANZCA terms and conditions when registering for an event.
Continuing professional development (CPD)
Participants in the ANZCA and FPM CPD Program will automatically have their attendance auto-populated to their CPD portfolio within 14 days of the conclusion of the meeting.
ANZCA and FPM CPD Program
This event is claimable by ANZCA and FPM CPD participants within the knowledge and skills or emergency responses categories.
Category 1: Practice evaluation
Category 1: Practice evaluation – cultural safety
Category 2: Knowledge and skills activities
Category 2: Knowledge and skills – learning sessions
Category 2: Knowledge and skills – short format learning
Category 3: Emergency responses activities
Where the outline states that the workshop satisfies an Emergency Response CPD requirement, the workshop will be prospectively recognised as suitable to be claimed as an emergency response activity.
If you're not a member of our CPD program
If you’re not participating in the ANZCA and FPM CPD program, please check with your respective college/provider regarding your CPD classifications. Post-event, you may request an electronic certificate of attendance for CPD evidence from the event organiser.
