To mark the International Year of the Nurse & Midwife, RFDS Central Operations has taken its appreciation for its nurses sky-high.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse & Midwife, which will be celebrated on Tuesday 12 May – International Day of the Nurse.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has taken this milestone opportunity to celebrate its dedicated nurses and midwives who deliver vital life-saving and essential primary health, mental health and dental health care throughout rural and remote communities every day.
From this month, all RFDS aircraft in South Australia and the Northern Territory will carry special “We Love Our Nurses & Midwife”
badging to acknowledge the year.
The “We Love Our Nurses & Midwife” message will also carry across to special-edition lapel pins and stickers for staff and supporters to demonstrate their personal appreciation throughout the month of May.
“The contribution of our nurses and midwives to the day-to-day health and wellbeing of South Australians is immeasurable,” RFDS Central Operations chief executive, Tony Vaughan ASM, said.
“From responding in emergencies through to delivering primary health care, wellbeing support, oral health and chronic disease management, our nurses monitor the heartbeat of rural and regional Australia.
“In the past year alone, our nurses and midwifes – with the support of the entire RFDS team – have touched the lives of 73 South Australians every single day.”
RFDS Central Operations (serving SA/NT) alone employs more than 70 nurses in diverse roles, including:
- Flight Nurse, providing the finest care on the ground and during aeromedical evacuations;
- Remote Area Nurse, servicing Remote Area Clinics at Marla, Marree and Andamooka;
- Dental Care Nurse, delivering oral health care and promotion in outback communities;
- Mental Health Nurse, providing confidential mental health & wellbeing support to isolated residents;
- Primary Health Care Nurse, delivering regular check-ups, immunisations and chronic disease management in regional communities;
- Midwife, supporting rural and regional women through pregnancy and childbirth, and;
- Nurses in Safety, Quality and Training and Leadership roles within the organisation.
