News

Oliver, RFDS Tasmania's newest qualified dental assistant

RFDS Tasmania's Newest Dental Assistants

04 Aug 2025

This Dental Health Week, the Royal Flying Doctor Service Tasmania is proud to celebrate two rising stars in our dental team, Oliver and Georgia, who have recently completed their Certificate III in Dental Assisting.

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14 May 2024

Flying Doctor Day 2024

On 15 May 2024, the RFDS will celebrate Flying Doctor Day and 96 years of proudly providing emergency aeromedical and essential health care services to the Australian community.

FDD 24 banner
10 May 2024

#90 A single dad, a sailboat, two girls and a wheel barrow

For two years, single dad James and his daughters Halle and Isla sailed along WA's coast on 'Salty Jocks', embracing remote schooling and fishing. In an inspiring move, James pushed his daughters 500km in a wheelbarrow to support RFDS's Oceans to Outback fundraiser.

james brougham and his girls
09 May 2024

RFDS Fortescue Heli-Med Service EC145 helicopter two year anniversary

Today marks two years since the RFDS Fortescue Heli-Med Service EC145 helicopters joined the Royal Flying Doctor Service WA fleet.

RFDS Helicopter from the back
09 May 2024

Leanne's Story

Leanne and her husband Darren were taking their new campervan back home to Exmouth when a medical emergency almost cost Leanne her life.

Leanne and her husband Darren at the beach
03 May 2024

#89 Tired, toilet, thirsty, thinner - Emma's young son ticked all the boxes for Type 1 diabetes.

When Emma Turner first discovered her seven-year-old son, Fred, had Type 1 diabetes, they were living in the middle of nowhere. But after Fred's symptoms suddenly became life-threatening, Emma found herself sitting next to the pilot in the cockpit of an RFDS plane, with her gravely ill son on board

Fred about 4 weeks before his diagnosis
01 May 2024

Australian-first virtual emergency centre to help save lives in the outback

The Royal Flying Doctor Service has opened its state-of-the-art health hub in the South Australian outback tourism town of William Creek that provides 24/7 emergency medical help with no health professionals physically on the ground.

Australian-first virtual emergency centre to help save lives in the outback
25 Apr 2024

#88 Ella was 35 weeks pregnant & driving an outback truck when her waters broke!

Ella and Dave, transport company owners, embarked on a final trip from Perth to Kimberley before their baby's arrival. Unexpectedly, at 35 weeks pregnant, Ella's waters broke in the remote outback, far from medical help. They faced an urgent journey to reach the nearest hospital

Ella with her baby on the RFDS Flight
22 Apr 2024

Leia's Story

As a fly-in fly-out HR professional for 15 years, Leia Piccoli had witnessed many mining colleagues require an RFDS retrieval in a medical emergency. She had never expected to need the service herself.

Leia at Fortescue HQ
19 Apr 2024

#87 How did Gayle lose the use of both arms in a farm-accident?

After Gayle's life-changing accident on a remote cattle station in Queensland, they have had to adapt to a new life, despite one arm being amputated and the other being paralysed

Gayle Shann
16 Apr 2024

Parker's Story

Last year the Galloway family were holidaying in Esperance when they were faced with every parent’s worst nightmare.

Parker smiling with his Mum and Dad
11 Apr 2024

#86 Barry was hanging upside down from his seat belt and the ute was on its roof

Barry was travelling with some work colleagues on his way back to Mount Isa from a remote mine site when the driver lost control of the ute, it flipped and Barry was left hanging from his seat belt. When he released his belt he fell directly on his head, instantly felt pain and saw stars.

Barry with his neck brace
05 Apr 2024

#85 How do you manage a Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis in remote Australia?

Danielle and Boyd Keenan live with their two young daughters, August (Augie), 11, and Willa, 9, in Broken Hills, NSW. When Augie was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes the remote city they love was a long way away from diabetes treatment.

Augie in Hospital
29 Mar 2024

#84 How did the remote SA township of Marla come to be?

Jane Oakley-Lohm is a central figure in the story of Marla, a remote township in South Australia that sprung up from a roadhouse created in the 1980's.

Jane Oakley- Lohm with her daughter
27 Mar 2024

Primary care access vital for better health outcomes in remote Australia

The second annual Royal Flying Doctor Service ‘Best for the Bush, Rural and remote Health Base Line’ report was released today.

Best for the Bush Rural and Remote Health Baseline 2023
25 Mar 2024

Saturday night snakebite

For long-haul truck driver Lee, Saturday nights are usually spent behind the wheel on lonely stretches of highway, but one such night in March took a turn, when he had to be flown from to Perth by the Flying Doctor.

Lee standing in front of his truck.