On a rural SA station, Laura Hewitt begins her mornings much like any other mum – only her nursery spans hundreds of kilometres.
For Laura, the RFDS has never been just a lifeline – it’s been a constant companion throughout her life, beginning before she even took her first breath.
“Mum was flown out with the RFDS and I was born five weeks premature,” she said.
“Ever since, the service has been key throughout my childhood and entire life.”
Now a mother herself to six-month-old Ava, Laura and her husband Ben manage Pernatty Station, a sheep and cattle station where the nearest health clinic is hours away in Port Augusta.
The RFDS is a vital part of their lives, connecting them to midwives, nurses, and health professionals who support them every step of the way.
“It’s that peace of mind when you’re not next to an emergency department and there are so many things that can go wrong and go downhill quite quickly,” Laura said.
While pregnancy can feel isolating when living remotely, with the support of the RFDS Community Health Team, Laura has never felt alone.
“As soon as you get that positive pregnancy test, you’re on the phone and Caitlyn [midwife] is there, stepping you through bit by bit,” Laura said.
“Then, once you have your baby, Tarnya [nurse] steps on board and is there through all of Ava’s appointments and developmental milestones.”
This continuity of care has been essential, not only for Ava’s health, but for Laura’s emotional wellbeing.
“Looking after your mental health out here is really important,” she said.
“People talk about how lonely it can be when you’ve had your first baby, and it’s true. But outhere, it’s a double whammy.
You’re isolated because of motherhood, and you’re isolated because of where you live.
”This is where the RFDS Bush Babies program comes in – a unique initiative designed to support new parents in the outback via group video sessions.
The program, run across four-week blocks, connects rural and remote mums like Laura with others navigating the challenges of early parenthood – offering professional guidance and social connection.
"There was a real need and desire for parents to be able to connect with other parents,” RFDS Community Midwife Caitlyn Reid said.
“It’s about sharing journeys and the experience of parenthood – the highs, the lows, the challenges – everything that comes with starting a family in a remote location.
“When I first met Laura, she was a teenager away at boarding school and living on a very remote cattle station. Now, to watch her transition into parenthood is such a blessing.”
The RFDS Bush Babies program is more than just a chat. It is a comprehensive, wrap-around service where parents have access to RFDS midwives, specialist nurses, dieticians and mental health professionals who guide discussions – from introducing foods to navigating postnatal anxiety.
“We talk about everything – starting solids for the first time, developmental milestones, your baby’s mental health and your own,” Laura said.
We all live and work out here, and we’re all really busy. So, to be able to sit down for an hour and a half with your baby, a coffee, and bring everyone together… it’s like our version of catching up with mates in town.
Laura Hewitt, rural mum
For RFDS Child & Family Health Nurse Tarnya Eggleton, Bush Babies complements her one-on-one support for families.
She provides regular checkups and performs health assessments across outback clinics, homesteads or in the back of a plane.
“I’m seeing families that could be 800 kilometres away from Port Augusta. It might be a face-to-face check, it might be via telehealth over the phone or video – whatever way I can best support them to look after their children,” Tarnya said.
“The period between zero and five years are integral, as that is the foundation for a child’s learning, growth and development.
It’s important families know their children are growing anddeveloping appropriately.
“I always say it takes a village to raise a baby and to support parents. At the RFDS, I really feel likewe’re part of that village.”
Despite the challenges, Laura wouldn’t trade her lifestyle for anything. She is cherishing every moment watching Ava grow up with a front-row seat to life on the land.
“Just yesterday, Ava walked cows and calves with me. Tomorrow, she’ll help put them on the truck,” Laura said.
“She gets to be a part of everything and she’s always so happy being outside.
"Ava has been the greatest blessing. We wake up every morning and she’s happy and ready to get on with the day.”
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