As many parts of Queensland resume natural disaster recovery efforts, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) (Queensland Section) is providing support to reassure communities that they are not alone.
The record-breaking floods in western Queensland mark the latest weather emergency to unfold across the state, forcing residents from the small towns of Thargomindah, Adavale and Jundah to evacuate to Charleville and Longreach.
It’s estimated that more than 140,000 head of livestock have been lost with thousands of homes, businesses and schools across western and south west Queensland inundated by flood waters.
While residents navigate through widespread power outages, limited telecommunications and disrupted services, the Flying Doctor is working to provide much needed support to affected areas.
Charleville RFDS Nurse Manager Jo Mahony said the RFDS is working closely with Queensland Health to identify and monitor vulnerable people in the communities to ensure they are cared for.
“Antenatal patients and those with newborn babies are being monitored, and we’ve proactively moved some patients to evacuation sites,” Jo said.
“Patient medications have been coordinated with local councils such as Paroo and Bulloo and pharmacies so that pharmaceuticals are being delivered with emergency food supplies to communities.
“Prescription deliveries to evacuation sites have also been coordinated.”
The Flying Doctor has offered its telehealth services to those who have been cut off from clinics.
So far, the team have been able to reach Windorah, Thargomindah, Yowah, Jundah, Birdsville and Eulo to offer primary health care and mental health support from airports, hospitals or evacuation centres.
“Over the past week, myself, and the team have reached out to people that we know who are the most vulnerable in those communities to make sure they are ok and to let them know that we are here for them to help in whatever way we can,” Jo said.
After visiting Thargomindah, the RFDS purchased boxes of essential hygiene products from Charleville, including hand sanitiser, wipes, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shirts, hats and toiletry kits, and arranged a return trip to deliver these to the community.
RFDS Deputy Head of Flying Operations Nick Tully, who was on annual leave during the disaster, met with a team of helicopter pilots in Quilpie to assist with evacuation efforts, drop food and fodder supplies, as well as rescue livestock.
While there is an unspoken understanding that Queenslanders are built to be resilient, when Mother Nature strikes almost every part of the state within a year, it can have traumatic ripple effects on communities.
To help families cope with the aftermath of the outback floods, the RFDS (Queensland Section) had RFDS mental health clinicians in Longreach, providing psychological first aid and free mental health consultations to evacuated families during the flooding event.
Mental health clinicians have also re-commenced flying to remote locations across central west and south west Queensland to undertake consultations where they can safely access.
Since 2023, Queensland has been struck by ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, which inundated the Cape York Peninsula and flooded the RFDS Cairns Base, ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily, which flooded north of Townsville, and most recently ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which shut down most of southeast Queensland in March.
If you, or someone you know, has been impacted by a natural disaster and needs medical support via our telehealth service, please contact the RFDS (Queensland Section) via 1300 69 7337 (1300 MY RFDS).
To read more about our mental health services and resources, please visit our website.
Photos by Wendy Sheehan and Nick Tully.
