Become an RFDS Flight Nurse (Midwifery)
Make a difference in communities by ensuring access to life-saving medical services.
Make a difference to those living, working and travelling in regional, rural and remote communities as a flight nurse (midwifery) with the RFDS (Queensland Section).
With varying clinical presentations every shift, step out of a role where days are the same, and into a role that is dynamic and ever-changing.
Our patient age range of 0-100+ years means you will gain and maintain the nursing skills required to care for neonates, paediatrics and adults. You will respond to and transfer all health events that affect patients during their lifetime including trauma, medical, surgical, neurological, cardiac and obstetric.
Take the opportunity to make a profound impact on remote communities that face unique and diverse medical challenges.
What does it take to be an RFDS Flight Nurse (Midwifery)?
As a flight nurse, you will provide critical care to patients in remote and challenging environments, working with a dedicated team across various medical presentations.
This dynamic role is perfect for those with a background in emergency nursing and a passion for patient advocacy, offering unparalleled career opportunities and experiences.
Flight nurses in Queensland take pride in their responsibility over significant geographical areas during their shifts with each day unique and rewarding. It is important you have the ability to work autonomously with 80% of taskings being flight nurse only. During a night shift, you are one of the few nurses providing the finest care to the furthest corner.
You will be part of a respected team, making crucial decisions, supported by pilots, medical officers, nurse practitioners and a logistics team, ensuring smooth transfers.
What you need:
- Registered Nurse and Midwife with AHPRA registration.
- Demonstrated five years of post-graduate experience (full-time equivalent).
- Demonstrated three years of experience in a critical care environment (24 hours in department medical coverage / tertiary hospital, within the last seven years).
- Current Advanced Life Support (ALS2).
- Paediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).
- Neonatal resuscitation certification.
- Ability to spend considerable time working in the confined space of a small aircraft.
Training and Development
- Midwifery Scholarship Program: This offers the opportunity for skilled registered nurses with extensive backgrounds in critical care to receive financial support to complete a midwifery qualification. Find out more here.
- Nurse Practitioner Scholarship Program: This is an internal scholarship to support flight nurses in their nurse practitioner studies.
- Internal training: The RFDS (Queensland Section) runs a number of internal training and professional development opportunities across many areas including cabin safety, emergency procedures and clinical learning.
- Professional Development opportunities: Formal support and training can be organised for specialist areas such as obstetrics and neonatal.
- Paid study leave: To maintain the employees' skills and knowledge in their area of practice, the RFDS offers five (5) days of study leave per annum for full-time employees or the pro rata equivalent for part-time employees.
- Additional paid training: The RFDS (Queensland Section) will also fund education in areas such as advanced life support, paediatric advanced life support, neonatal resuscitation and emergency paediatrics and maternity. All mandatory training shall be conducted during normal hours. In this case, no leave is required and you will be paid as usual. Nurses are required to maintain current Advanced Life Support (ALS), Paediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Advanced Neonatal Resuscitation certifications.
" There is no better sight than the RFDS on the horizon. You know help is coming." - Station owner
Benefits of working for the RFDS
- Generous base salary of $137,909 (FTE) + superannuation.
- Access to generous not-for-profit tax-free benefits of up to $18,550.
- Extensive orientation program ensuring you are well equipped to be confident in your new role.
- Nurses with relevant postgraduate qualifications are recognised by RFDS and awarded relevant pay points. Additionally, RFDS awards pay points to employees for their years of continuous service.
- Six weeks annual leave pro-rata.
Extra benefits of working at a western base
- Gratuity of $3,700 after 12 months and $5,550 after two years.
- Rent/mortgage assistance of up to $23,000 In Mount Isa and $13,000 in Charleville.
- Remote area payment of $4,688.
- Remote area housing assistance - rental 50% reduction of taxable value for FBT.
- Remote area residential (not vehicle) fuel 50% reduction of taxable value for FBT.
- Remote area housing assistance - mortgage interest 50% reduction of taxable value for FBT.
- Remote area travel assistance – 50% reduction of taxable value for FBT.
- Relocation allowances up to $7,000 plus support with RFDS-paid accommodation while you settle.
Where you could work
Cairns Base
RFDS Cairns Base is one of the longest serving bases in the RFDS network. Services provided from RFDS Cairns Base include remote medical consultations, aeromedical retrievals and primary health care clinics incorporating general practice, child and family health, Indigenous health, mental health, women's health and health promotion.
Cairns is situated in tropical north Queensland surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef and stunning World Heritage Rainforests. You will be surrounded by mountains, beaches, wetlands with endless places to explore in this diverse location. Make your sea change! Work with a truly dedicated, passionate and caring team providing the finest care to those who need it the most.
Charleville Base
The RFDS Charleville Base services approximately 622,000 square kilometres of southwest Queensland providing a range of services including remote medical consultations, aeromedical retrievals, medical chest and primary health care clinics incorporating general practice, child and family health and field days.
In outback Queensland, the locals are friendly and warm, so you will feel right at home when you join the team. Taking a walk along the Warrego River, watching wildlife, and chasing down the best outback steak are just some of the things to do in Charleville. The south-west pocket offers adventure beyond Charleville - hike Carnarvon Gorge, attend Australia's biggest cattle auction in Roma or soak in a mineral-rich artesian mud bath in Eulo.
Mount Isa Base
RFDS Mount Isa Base is a busy aeromedical base completing inter-hospital transfers, aeromedical retrievals, and primary health care throughout North West Queensland.
Mount Isa is an ‘oasis of the outback’ with ample places to fish, camp or relax and enjoy an outback sunset. The rugged terrain is a four-wheel driver’s haven perfect for adventures on your days off to Lawn Hill Gorge in Boodjamulla National Park and world heritage-listed Riversleigh Fossil Fields.
Rockhampton Base
The RFDS Rockhampton Base operates as an emergency retrieval base incorporating aeromedical retrieval and inter-hospital transfer services.
Rocky is country living with city advantages, river, and mountain views, a thirty-minute ride to the coast, and an easy commute to just about anywhere in town. Rocky is the place where you’ll find yourself with more time for the people and activities you love most. Enjoy an outdoor lifestyle with the Great Barrier Reef and beautiful Queensland beaches on your doorstep!
Townsville Base
RFDS Townsville Base provides aeromedical retrieval and inter-hospital transfers throughout all of Queensland. Your day could involve travel up to Thursday Island, across to Mount Isa, down to Brisbane, or any of the other many places throughout Queensland that we serve.
Located on the Queensland coastline, Townsville offers a range of experiences. From exploring tropical islands to the wet tropic rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef, there is always an adventure to be had.
Bundaberg Base
The RFDS Bundaberg Base operates as an emergency retrieval base, incorporating aeromedical retrieval and inter-hospital transfer services.
Situated on the edge of the Southern Great Barrier Reef Bundaberg is a charming place with warm and welcoming locals, brimming with bakers, baristas and brewers, green sea turtles, and migrating humpback whales. Bundaberg is an ideal destination for those seeking a harmonious work/life balance. During your leisure time, you can explore the breathtaking beaches and national parks that surround the area. When you feel like a trip south, Brisbane is only a few hours away.
Brisbane Base
The RFDS Brisbane Base The Base is an emergency aeromedical base, providing retrieval and inter-hospital transfers.
This base is located at the Brisbane Airport, approximately 17 kilometres from Brisbane City. It provides the RFDS with the ability to deliver care to regional, rural and remote communities from Brisbane ensuring patients can access tertiary hospitals to receive the care they need.
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