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Your Flying Doctor has its arms stretched out wide for Australians – not only in an emergency but for 'whole of life' care.

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2024 Year in Review

Check out our 2024 RFDS SA/NT Year in Review.

A close shave

While working on a remote SA station’s homestead, Ash was flung from his motorbike, knocking him unconscious. As the adrenaline and shock waned, the pain came.

Brought back to life... twice

Richard thought he’d lost the love of his life when his partner Colleen’s heart stopped not once, but twice, in the middle of the night – in the middle of the outback.

A real kick in the face

23 year old Amy Kynoch was going about her work as a station hand at Lucy Creek Station, NT when a cow kicked her in the face.

From Melbourne to Mparntwe

Social Work student Mick Keane jumped at the opportunity to join the RFDS Mental Health & Wellbeing team in outback NT.

Small problem, big complications

After baby Muhammad was prematurely born at 31 weeks, mum Ratna noticed something wasn't quite right.

A dry needle in the haystack

Armed with a portable treatment table and a backpack containing everything you’d find in a city clinic, the RFDS’s newest health professional is making tracks in the bush.

Old scars, new strength

Traumatic injuries can have long-lasting effects and for Ti Tree resident Sandy Abley, the Flying Doctor was there to support her full journey to physical and emotional recovery.

Behind the scenes of an RFDS outback mission

Emergency outback retrieval

Follow the Flying Doctor on an outback mission to get young patient Tyler to safety and care.

Strong women, healthy country

Recently the RFDS Nursing team was invited to provide First Aid and health promotion at the annual ‘Strong Women for Healthy Country’ Forum in the NT's Top End.

Critical care and coordination

In Central Australia, critical care doctors like Dr Wyllie from MRaCC offer 24/7 telephone support and coordinate RFDS crews for Territorians and tourists in need.

Protecting a special pocket of Australia

Stationed at the intersection of Australia’s three central deserts, the challenges of accessing health care loom large for Kalamurina Wildlife Sanctuary Manager, Dr Annemarie van Doorn.

Highway to help: Tony's story

Tony Hudson rolled his car on the Nullarbor Plain.

When ritual meets rescue

in March 2021, a Men's Business ceremony in Far North SA took an unexpected turn, when Robert began experiencing extreme pain in his abdomen.

Australia's first outback highway landing

In 2023, the RFDS performed a world-first aeromedical jet landing on a stretch of remote South Australian highway.

In hot water: Louis' Story

Cowboy Louis was enjoying his fourth year at a station in the remote Barkly Region of the NT, when a freak accident struck.

Five times revived

On a searing summer day, South Australian opal miner Richard Hawkins fell victim to extreme dehydration and his heart stopped.

Out of breath, out of nowhere

Shannon was 1,000 kilometres from home and unable to breathe - her first potentially fatal asthma attack.

Chopper crash comeback

Alex Lawrie was living the dream as a helicopter tour pilot at Uluru, until an engine failure changed his life forever.

Mental health training out bush

The RFDS recently launched Mental Health First Aid training for remote communities, providing practical skills for outback residents and workers to support family and friends.

Mungerannie sliding doors

Outback traveller Shirley shudders to think ‘what could’ve been’ if she did not have a retrieval team by her side when her body shut down.

Healthy smiles, happy lives

At the base of Uluru, the Flying Doctor is working together with the Aboriginal Community of Mutitjulu to promote healthy smiles and happy lives.

Down to the wire

A devastating fall from a ladder while on a job 540km north of Adelaide became a race against time for carpenter Richard Hobbs.

Badly broken, barely breathing

When Phil Eley’s motorbike adventure went horribly wrong in the middle of outback Australia, his friends at the scene feared the worst.

Remote rescue

Young Sonny Driver was enjoying life on his family NT cattle station, when a serious injury threatened to change his life forever.

Rural mum's rare scare

Pregnant with her second child, Anna Nunn was busy working on Wooltana Station in SA’s Far North when she received a distressing diagnosis.

A rural lifeline

As increasing emotional stress pushed outback station owner Jo French to breaking point, her family made a life-saving phone call.

Galiwin’ku resilience

On the remote island of Galiwin’ku in the Top End, the Flying Doctor has been busy working with the community to combat COVID-19.

RFDS Central Operations Aeromedical Retrieval

Aeromedical retrievals: Dr James' story

Dr James Padley sees first-hand how families and communities rally in times of emergency. He is part of the Flying Doctor crew airlifting more than 9,000 South Australians and Northern Territorians every year.

Primary Health Care RFDS Central Operations

Remote primary health care

Raising four kids, two litters of puppies and 5,500 head of cattle on more than 8,000sq km of pastoral property adds up to a remarkable life for Kirsty and Cameron Williams, RFDS clients living on The Peake Station in SA's Far North.