Become an RFDS Primary Health Care Nurse
Deliver dedicated care and make a meaningful impact on our communities.
Primary Health Care (PHC) is one of our most vital services, accounting for up to two-thirds of our daily operations. Primary health care includes a broad range of activities and services, from health promotion and prevention to treatment and management of acute and chronic conditions and is critical for those living in the bush or on the coast.
The RFDS (Queensland Section) PHC nurses provide a range of crucial healthcare services to rural and remote communities in the Far North and Western regions of Queensland.
In this role, you will build ongoing relationships with patients, their families and the community. You will provide care to your patients in their local communities, allowing them to receive care where they are most comfortable while also aiming to reduce the need for secondary and tertiary care.
RFDS (Queensland Section) PHC nurses offer essential services that Queenslanders may not otherwise be able to access. As an integral member of our PHC team, you will provide care in vast and beautiful settings and support First Nations peoples in their communities.
In support of local communities, you will provide:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services
- Child and family health services including shared antenatal care
- Women’s health services
- Chronic disease care and support
- Health Promotion and Health education activities
- Early detection and brief intervention programs
Use your skills to make an impact where it is needed most.
What does it take to be an RFDS Primary Health Care Nurse?
As a PHC nurse, you have the opportunity to make a real impact in promoting good health, providing proactive care, and keeping people healthy. In some communities, RFDS is the sole healthcare provider, making your contributions even more valuable.
These roles offer the chance to see unique landscapes, whether flying over the coastline or central west bushland with opportunities for remote work, which involve a maximum of four nights away with secure accommodation provided.
Nurses can enhance their skills while working in remote communities, supporting people during challenging times and building lasting relationships.
Taking a generalist approach, our PHC nurses offer services from prenatal to geriatric care. Supported by the RFDS, healthcare professionals, and a collaborative team, the role requires adaptability, resourcefulness, and cultural awareness.
What you need:
- APHRA Registration as a nurse
- Minimum of three years full-time equivalent (FTE) experience in a Primary Health Care setting.
- Rural and remote nursing experience, including the provision of services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
- Ability to collaborate with the community and patients to deliver the best care and care that suits their needs.
In addition to the above essential requisites, we highly value:
- AHPRA registration as a midwife
- Immunisation endorsement (desirable).
- Rural and Isolated Practice (Scheduled Medicines) endorsement (RIPRN) (desirable).
- Postgraduate qualifications in Child and Family Health, Chronic Disease Management, Cervical Screening, Diabetes and Lactation education.
- Understanding and supporting cultural diversity, including traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health models.
- Taking initiative where required to deliver care.
- Current Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Paediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).
- Neonatal advanced resuscitation certification.
Training and Development
- Paid study leave: To maintain the employee's 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 subsidise 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. PHC Nurses are required to maintain current Advanced Life Support (ALS), Paediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Advanced Neonatal Resuscitation certifications.
- PHC- Midwifery Scholarship: This scholarship supports PHC nurses in gaining their midwifery qualification. This opportunity is available to internal staff only.
- Clinical placements: The RFDS offers additional support for clinical placements to help PHC nurses keep their skills up to date.
Benefits of working for the RFDS
- Generous base salary of $126,445 (Midwife) + superannuation.
- Access to generous not-for-profit tax-free benefits of up to $18,550.
- Full time hours include 16 shifts per month. You don't work weekends or public holidays.
- Extensive orientation program well equipping you 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.
- Five weeks' annual leave.
- Overnight allowances when you stay overnight.
Extra benefits of working at a western Queensland base
- Gratuity of $3,492 after 12 months and $5,238 after two years.
- Rent/mortgage assistance of up to $23,000.
- 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 allowance up to $7,000 plus accommodation while you settle.
Where you could work
Charleville
The RFDS Charleville Base services approximately 622,000 square kilometres of southwest Queensland extending from the New South Wales border to the Northern Territory and South Australia borders in the west, and the Carnarvon Ranges in the east.
This base provides primary health care clinics to a number of rural and remote communities in the southwest region incorporating general practice, child and family health and field days. The telehealth and aeromedical teams also deliver remote consultations, aeromedical retrievals and support the medical chest program.
Cairns
The RFDS Cairns Base is the largest and one of the longest-serving bases in the RFDS network. This base provides services in the Cape York region of Queensland.
This base delivers a number of primary health care clinics in rural and remote communities incorporating general practice, child and family health, Indigenous health, mental health, women's health and health promotion. The telehealth and aeromedical teams also provide remote consultations and aeromedical retrievals.
Mount Isa
The RFDS Mount Isa Base services people living, working and travelling from the Gulf of Carpenteria in the north, the Northern Territory border in the west, Hughenden in the east and Bedourie in the South.
This base delivers a number of primary health care clinics to rural and remote communities in north west Queensland, incorporating general practice, child and family health, Indigenous health, mental health and health promotion. The telehealth and aeromedical teams also provide services including remote consultations and aeromedical retrievals.
PHC nursing services are provided by Cairns PHC nurses on a rotational basis from Cairns.
Apply now
* required fieldsThe RFDS (Queensland Section) Values
