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The Flying Doctor celebrated a special group of its workforce in recognition of the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife throughout 2020.
All Flying Doctor aircraft and 4WD ambulances in South Australia and the Northern Territory were branded with new “We Love Our Nurses & Midwives” badging to mark the milestone year.
Special-edition lapel pins and stickers were also distributed far and wide, celebrating the contribution of more than 70 dedicated nurses and midwives delivering the finest care to rural and remote communities throughout SA and NT.
RFDS Central Operations Chairman Peter de Cure and Chief Executive Tony Vaughan ASM extended a heartfelt thanks to those that are the lifeblood in our communities in an open letter below.
To all Nurses & Midwives
Today, on International Nurses Day, we take this special opportunity to thank you all.
Whether you’re working in the heart of Central Australia or across the pastoral plains of South Australia – in cities, suburbs, country towns or remote settlements of just a few – you are the lifeblood of our community.
Your contribution is felt every day by your patients, their loved ones and your colleagues.
And while it’s sometimes hard to measure the impact of your work, countless generations of healthy South Australians and Northern Territorians are testament to it.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) is immensely proud of our own dedicated team of nurses and midwives.
Together, in collaboration with the entire RFDS workforce, our health partners and our supporters, our tireless team of health professionals deliver 24/7 emergency aeromedical and essential primary care to the furthest corners of this state and beyond.
In the air or on the ground, RFDS nurses are indispensable in delivering our finest care and they represent a constant connection for our patients from infancy through to old age.
Our nurses and midwives deliver a diverse spectrum of health services including primary health care, mental health care, wellbeing support, midwifery, oral health, indigenous and palliative care services.
Over the past year, our nurses have touched lives and improved the health of more than 140 South Australians and Territorians every day, equivalent to someone every 10 minutes. Most recently this has been over and above the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, which they have taken in their capable stride.
From today, our pride in our nurses and midwives will be flying high, with every Flying Doctor aircraft across SA and NT badged with our appreciation in this, the International Year of the Nurse & Midwife.
On behalf of the RFDS Central Operations team and every Australian you serve, thank you.
Peter de Cure, Chairman, RFDS Central Operations
Tony Vaughan ASM, Chief Executive, RFDS Central Operations
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Our Nurses
RFDS Central Operations (serving SA/NT) 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.
