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RFDS Indigenous health - Western Operations

RFDS Western Operations facilitates the provision of a variety of health services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Western Australia.

Health Services Provided

Specifically, in the Kimberley Region:

  • RFDS provides the Service in partnership with the Derby Aboriginal Health Service, Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council and WA Country Health Service.
  • RFDS doctors provide 3 half-day sessions per week to the Derby Aboriginal Health Service in Derby
  • RFDS doctors attend monthly clinics at Gibb River Road for Jurrugk Health Services – Dodnun, Imintjii, Kupingarri and Ngallagunda
  • RFDS holds a charter contract with local operators to supply aircraft to transport visiting General Practitioners, Medical Specialists, Allied Health personnel, Community Nurses and Aboriginal Health Workers to remote communities on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis.
  • RFDS supplies a Primary Health Care Nurse to provide clinical nursing services based on primary health care principles at remote communities in conjunction with medical officers, remote area nurses and health workers. The current focus is child and maternal health, antenatal care and a comprehensive child/adult immunisation program. The PHCN also participates in screening and surveillance programs as requested.
  • A male Aboriginal Health Worker assists the PHCN and provides education to individuals/groups and participates in health promotion programs.

Health assessments QLD

Men’s Health Week 2010

Unique and innovative approaches are required to access an otherwise reluctant population for health assessment and education. Activities such Men’s Health Week in July 2010 focus attracting the 18-25y age group and providing health checks and education for the male population of the Fitzroy Valley.
This activity involved a wide range of agencies including staff such as the RFDS Male Aboriginal Health Worker, Derby Aboriginal Health Service personnel, Nindilingarri Cultural Health personnel, a doctor from Fitzroy Crossing and volunteers including a Melbourne Lawyer and the entertainer David Pigram.
They visited 6 communities and took advantage of community events such as football training sessions to deliver their message.

Clinic under the trees QLD

Servicing Communities

Communities can range from 4-250 residents and the demographics of the residents can vary from day to day. Access to the communities can also be problematic, especially during the wet season: low cloud and flooding can prevent the aircraft from taking off and landing. Clinics can be cut short due to bad weather, leaving long gaps between visits of medical personnel, especially if the clinic is only scheduled on a monthly basis.
Yakanarra is a community of around 150 people, 140 km from Fitzroy crossing and 600 km from Broome. A typical clinic day timetable for the Primary Health Care Nurse and Aboriginal Health Worker at Yakanarra consists of:

  • 0630 pack aircraft
  • 0700 depart
  • Fly Derby- Fitzroy Crossing, pick up a GP then fly to Yakanarra
  • Clinic in Yakanarra with 22 patients
  • Leave by 1500 hours to return doctor to Fitzroy and arrive back in Derby before dark
  • Unpack and complete data reports
  • Finish work 1730 - 1800h

The clinic aircraft may also carry Allied Health such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists, paediatricians and other essential health care professionals who, due to the remoteness of the communities, provide a service that would otherwise not be available to the population in the area.