Seeking something different, Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) (RFDS) Mount Isa nurse manager, Jamie-Lee McCall, swapped the bustle of Brisbane for a new challenge in Queensland's furthest corner, and she hasn’t looked back.
When she first interviewed for the role, she was told Mount Isa would be unlike anywhere else. A typical day can mean landing on dirt airstrips, responding to mustering accidents, rollovers, or snake bites, often as the very first point of care.
“And I was like, you know what? I've lived in Brisbane for 20-30 years. I really think I need something different and exciting and, you know, a challenge,” Jamie-Lee said.
“I only asked one question…Can I bring my dog?”
Five years on, Jamie-Lee fell in love with the remote town, with no intention of going anywhere anytime soon.
“It’s the best job in the world!” she said.
“We’ve got a fabulous team out here who are really passionate about the job that we do.
“Whatever the day brings, we always finish the day with a smile.
“It’s challenging at times but incredibly rewarding when you can see the difference you are making.”
The RFDS plays a huge role in remote communities such as Mount Isa, providing 24-hour support to those who live, work or travel throughout the region.
“One of my most memorable jobs was retrieving a patient who had come off his bicycle and had been stuck in a ditch for over 24 hours with a broken hip,” Jamie-Lee said.
“Thankfully, another traveller found him, and we got the call to pick him up, where we could provide immediate relief and transport him to urgent care.
“Being alone for as long as he was, he didn’t know if he would survive.
“I will always remember how thankful he and the community were that we could be there.”
It’s moments like these that remind Jamie-Lee just how vital the RFDS is to remote communities, not only in the service it delivers but also in the reassurance that it is there.
“The service touches everyone out here, as our patients are often someone that someone else knows,” she said.
While there is nothing quite like providing aeromedical care, for Jamie-Lee, her greatest pride comes from leading her team.
“I love being there for my team and aim to be someone they can rely on and seek support from,” she said.
She recalls a recent moment that made her particularly proud, when one of her nurses had to perform a breech birth delivery, which is a procedure that would typically result in a caesarean in a tertiary hospital.
“Where we are, that isn’t an option; it is just you, your skills and your team,” Jamie-Lee said.
“That nurse was able to handle a complex birth and deliver the baby safely.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the way the team consistently rise to every challenge.”
Earlier this year, Jamie-Lee’s pup Lulu graduated as a qualified therapy dog and became the newest member of the RFDS team in Mount Isa, helping boost morale and bring a little joy to the base.
“Moods change instantly when she comes in, as she brightens everyone’s day,” Jamie-Lee said.
“I’d love to bring her in more often, but due to the nature of my role, I can only bring her in when I’m off duty.”
For Jamie-Lee, Mount Isa isn’t just a job, it’s a purpose.
“Out here, every day matters. I came out here looking for a challenge, but what I found was so much more,” she said.
If you want to learn more about being a flight nurse, you can find more information here.
