Today marks an historic day in patient care across Queensland’s North West with the official opening of the new LifeFlight/Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) (Queensland Section) aeromedical hub.
- First sod was turned on new $34.4 million facility at Mount Isa for LifeFlight and Royal Flying Doctor Service in August 2024.
- The build was funded by the State Government and resources sector plus funding from the Australian Government and Queensland Airports Limited.
- The new facility will enable both LifeFlight and the RFDS to operate cohesively in a shared space and work collaboratively for the benefit of the community.
The project is proudly funded by the Australian Government ($9.7 million), Queensland Government ($10.9 million) in partnership with participating mineral resources industry parties, the Queensland Resources Council and its members in association with Queensland Airports Limited (QAL - $900,000), owner and operator of Mount Isa Airport.
Both LifeFlight and the RFDS (Queensland Section) has also received valuable contributions from supporters to make construction of the new facility a reality.
The LifeFlight/RFDS (Queensland Section) facility will enable both organisations to operate cohesively from the same location, improving service delivery across the region.
Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said “The Crisafulli Government is committed to restoring health services when and where Queenslanders need them and this new aeromedical base means medical teams can better deliver their lifesaving, primary and preventative healthcare services throughout the North and North West.
“Not only is the Mount Isa base a hub for emergency patient retrievals and transfers, but it will help meet growing primary healthcare needs over a vast area from the Gulf, down to the Channel Country of the Central West and across to the Northern Territory border.”
Federal Assistant Minister for Regional Development Senator Anthony Chisholm said “Our commitment to regional Australia is as strong as our commitment to healthcare, and the opening of this new aeromedical base is further evidence of that.
“The old hangar had been in operation since the sixties, and it’s my hope that these new and improved facilities allow the RFDS and LifeFlight to provide lifesaving support to regional Queenslanders for another six decades, at least.
RFDS (Queensland Section) CEO Meredith Staib said the new base is a state-of-the-art facility which will service the expanding North-West region for decades to come.
“We know the Mount Isa base is a key emergency retrieval hub, but it also has growing Primary Health Care needs with six remote locations serviced weekly including Bedourie in the south, Camooweal in the west and Gregory Downs in the north.
“These patients are also provided with expert mental health support.
“The Mount Isa Primary Health Care team is vital to the health and wellbeing of people in some of Queensland’s most isolated locations, carrying out over 4500 consultations last year.
“The RFDS (Queensland Section) continues to work closely with our partners, Queensland Health, Retrieval Services Queensland, Queensland Ambulance Service and LifeFlight to deliver the finest care to the furthest corner.
“As a sign of the important integration taking place between medical services, RFDS Doctors are now trained to carry out their lifesaving work on LifeFlight aircraft so the region can benefit from greater response capability.”
LifeFlight chair Hon. Jim Elder said the organisation had provided aeromedical care to the region for the past 18 years and the facility would enhance its capabilities, while meeting increasing demand for its services.
“The base will help to ensure our commitment to provide equity of healthcare to all people, no matter where they live,” he said.
“The larger and better equipped hangar and crew quarters can now accommodate the latest AW139 helicopter, perfect for a range of complex rescue missions in this part of the world, while state-of-the-art engineering and maintenance facilities will provide support onsite.
“It’s an historic day and LifeFlight acknowledges our partners RFDS, the LifeFlight North West Regional Advisory Committee for its tireless advocacy, Queensland Airports Limited, Newlands Group for an incredible build, and our State and Federal Government partners for backing the project.
“It will make a quantifiable difference to the communities we serve.”
Queensland Airports Limited CEO Amelia Evans said they were proud to support the delivery of this important facility at Mount Isa Airport.
“As the gateway to North West Queensland, we’re proud of the role Mount Isa Airport plays in providing locals with access to critical medical care and this facility further strengthens that role,” Ms Evans said.
“Connecting communities is at the heart of what we do, and this facility will ensure LifeFlight and the RFDS can deliver essential aeromedical services to people across one of the largest and most remote regions in Queensland.
The development of the new joint LifeFlight/RFDS (Queensland Section) base will provide a vital aeromedical hub for the Mount Isa region which regularly services an area almost the size of New South Wales.
The construction supported over 600 jobs with 76% employed from either Mount Isa or Townsville.
