News

Queensland’s largest art exhibition spreads its wings with the Royal Flying Doctor Service

Queensland's largest and most prestigious art exhibition is spreading its wings with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) to help raise funds for the state's field days.

A smile belongs on every child

Roadstrip Retrieval

The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) is undertaking the aeromedical retrieval of a man following a motorcycle accident on the Eyre Highway

Service Planning and Operational Tool

As an Australian first, the RFDS use a Service Planning and Operational Tool called ‘SPOT’. SPOT is a custom made software, developed to assist the RFDS in planning where services should be located, relative to need. This is done by mapping existing services and overlaying these with population data

A chat with Christopher Wallin

Queenslander Christopher Wallin supports the Royal Flying Doctor Service but he’s probably better known as a successful business man and the Managing Director of QCoal Group.

Farmhand to Flying Doctor

The mail plane was small. It didn’t fill me with confidence – one engine, one pilot. But he was friendly and made me feel a little reassured. I was 15 years old and heading out to Abingdon Downs Station in gulf country Queensland, to visit my school friend Klancie, and ‘help’ with the mustering.

My Dad could see what was coming long before it came!

The idea was that Flynn would organise the doctors and the planes, but at that time there simply was no way that the vast majority of people in remote areas could talk with one another, let alone call up a doctor when the need arose. Enter Dad, to provide good radio communications in the Outback.

A day in the life – John Hannan

For Cairns Mental Health Clinical Practitioner, John Hannan, no two days in his line of work are ever the same. Flexibility and spontaneity are required to ensure every client seen is helped. This is a day in the life of John Hannan.

A Christmas Blessing

The RFDS was delighted after being chosen as the charity of choice for the 2018 ABC Christmas Appeal. However, the sheer amount of support we received far surpassed our expectations.

Flying Doctor’s mental health services expand to reach more remote communities

Lightning Ridge Support Group earns big returns for the RFDS

The first recycling scheme in north-west NSW has pulled the community together and exceeded its own expectations for fundraising for the RFDS.

A small boy’s rescue by his heroes

“My son knew about the RFDS. He is obsessed with planes... He was thrilled to know he was in a Flying Doctor plane."

Rolling out new Mental Health Services across the country

A new national mental health program is commencing this month which will expand access to mental health services in rural and remote Australia. The new program will see mental health workers visit communities who previously faced long travel times to access services.

Message from South Eastern Section President Ruth Sandow

Ruth Sandow, RFDS SE President, reflects the 90th anniversary year of the RFDS in 2018 and the inspirational development of the aeromedical service that remains vital today.

Courtney's Story

“You don’t realise how remote it is out there until you need help. It was spectacular to watch the Flying Doctor in action.”