Welcome to the Charleville base

At the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section), you’ll be driven by purpose rather than tasks. Here, every role contributes to making a difference in people’s lives each day.

Our Charleville Base provides a range of services, including aeromedical retrievals, inter-hospital transfers, and primary health care clinics. A mix of operational crews and support staff work from this site, including people in clinical care, aviation, engineering, logistics, and administrative roles, all working together to improve access to healthcare across the state.

Charleville Base key information

Address: The Charleville Base is located at John Flynn Way, Charleville
Telephone: 07 4654 1233
Email: rfds_cvl@rfdsqld.com.au
Office hours: 8:30am to 5:00pm

Key contacts

Base Support Manager: Liane Spencer - 0428 412 659 or lspencer@rfdsqld.com.au

Nurse Manager- Aeromedical and Primary Health Care: Jo Mahoney - 0428 412 653 or jmahony@rfdsqld.com.au

Medical Lead- Primary Health Care: Dr Charles Ellis-Hallett - 07 4656 5900 or cellis@rfdsqld.com.au

Medical Lead- Aeromedical: Dr Rob Cardwell - 0487 230 311 or rcardwell@rfdsqld.com.au

Senior Base Pilot: Terry Latchman - 0409 638 549 or tlatchman@rfdsqld.com.au

Accessing the base

On your first day, head to reception, where you will be greeted by the team at reception or your manager.

We will also set up your swipe card at this time so you can access the base.

If you are accessing the Base after hours, use your staff swipe card or contact the Base Support Manager.

More information

On your first day at the Base, you will receive an orientation to the Base.

A member of the team will meet you at the airport – either your Buddy, leader or one of our Pilots.

You will also be set up with IT equipment (lap top, phone etc), Swipe Card Access, ASIC, and be given an opportunity to complete required e-learning.

To access the Base car, collect keys from Base Support Manager.

If after hours, the keys will be on the reception desk in an envelope with your name on it and car registration number.

The Base Support Manager will coordinate all your flight and accommodation bookings.

You should expect to receive communication from RFDS via email to confirm all your bookings.

Phone reception can be difficult to obtain in regional areas. We suggest that you have a Telstra sim card activated on your personal phone so that you can stay in touch with family and friends however Optus does also work in Charleville.

It is recommended that you research weather conditions in the location you are heading to prior to packing. Some locations get very cold in winter and very hot in summer. Bring items that will help you feel comfortable when you are not working, and that will assist in maintaining your lifestyle. Swimmers and walking clothes/shoes are always handy items to bring.

Groceries: The local IGA is open 8:00am to 7:00pm on weekdays. On weekends, it is open 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Coffee and Gift Shop:

Charlottes Nest (owned by one of our flight nurses)
Milk Bar on Alfred
Rusty Lane (drive-thru)

Butchers: Dunnes Meats, Western Butchery, IGA

Bakery: Heinemanns Bakery in Alfred Street

Charleville has plenty of ways to stay active and social with a range of sporting teams to be involved in.

Social netball
Cricket
Golf
Touch football
Indoor volleyball
lawn bowls
Pilates
Park Run, 7am on Saturdays (with RFDS participants)
Fit Stop Gym
Charleville swimming pool
Walking tracks
Social tennis - Charleville Lawn Tennis Club

Accommodation

There are a mix of apartments and houses for RFDS employees which are all equipped with washing machines and driers. You will be allocated one of these. Details for these properties are as follows: