The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging health care systems worldwide, described as an unparalleled and extraordinary public health emergency (Jackson et al., 2020). Australian measures designed to contain and minimise the spread and impact of COVID-19 have been relatively successful compared to other countries (Chin et al., 2020). Yet, heightened vigilance and hospital-wide preparations for a COVID-19 surge are ongoing. A recent Australian survey identified that there is capacity to increase the number of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds and ventilators by 191% and 121% respectively (Phua et al., 2020). ICU preparedness is a key part of Australia’s response, given that as many as 16% of patients in Lombardy, Italy (Grasselli et al., 2020) and 24% of patients in New York, USA diagnosed with COVID-19 required an ICU admission (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020). But there is more to an ICU admission than beds and ventilators. ICU clinicians must adapt, evolve and develop new ways to meet the needs of the critically ill and the greater community.