Her research and findings have landed her an invitation to attend the internationally recognised Interservice/Industry Simulation Education and Training Committee (IISETC).

The US event is a collation of the brightest minds and most progressive technologies for simulation based learning, and while this is the third time she has been invited, the honour holds just as much weight.

“Simulation isn’t there to replace face to face training but there to complement it,” Dr Davies said. 

As part of her PhD she interviewed 700 NSW Police Academy students for the ‘Don’t Shoot/ Shoot’ simulation and senior officers in Sydney who used technologies in preparation for major events such as large riots and floods. 

She evaluated the impact of using the simulation in preparation to field activities. 

“Inexperienced police used experience from the simulation as a reference point, not everything, but it was complementary,” she said. 

“Senior police also thought about the decision made in the simulation. It’s about lessons learnt, no matter if you made a good decision or could have made a better one.” 

Findings supported a debrief with the instructor as instrumental for the participant.

On the Goulburn site, students have access to the ‘village’ for larger activity based simulations and Virtra, a space with floor to ceiling screens. 

“Being a part of [the conference] gives me entry into what’s happening on the world landscape and opportunity to bring that back to work and develop that wider knowledge here in the community,” she said.

“The more we know, and the more up to date we are with it, the more it will enhance how we educate here.”

The IISETC will showcase over two hectares of the latest simulation based learning  technology in Orlando, Florida.