Welcome to the Cairns 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 Cairns Base provides a range of services, including remote medical consultations, aeromedical retrievals, and primary health care clinics that incorporate general practice, child and family health, Indigenous health, mental health, women's health, and health promotion. 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.
Cairns Base key information
- Address: 1 Royal Flying Doctor Street, General Aviation Cairns Airport, Aeroglen QLD 4870
- Telephone: 07 4040 0444
- Email: rfds_cns@rfdsqld.com.au
- Office hours: 8:30am to 5:00pm
Key contacts
Base Support Manager: Bill Spriggs - 0409 726 041 or bspriggs@rfdsqld.com.au
Nurse Manager - Aeromedical: Leanne Hill - 0427 776 638 or lhill@rfdsqld.com.au
Nurse Manager - Primary Health Care: Karenlee Hess - 0437 117 238 or khess@rfdsqld.com.au
Medical Lead - Primary Health Care: Billie Corcoran - 0438 872 302 or bcorcoran@rfdsqld.com.au
Medical Lead - Aeromedical: Mark George - 0437 824 302 or mgeorge@rfdsqld.com.au
Manager - Far North Mental Health: Jos Middleton - 0409 154 477 or jmiddleton@rfdsqld.com.au
Senior Base Pilot: Hayden Watson - 0448 895 591 or hwatson@rfdsqld.com.au
Senior Base Engineer: Cavell Wright - 0486 016 032 or cwright@rfdsqld.com.au
Getting to the base
Navigate to 1 Royal Flying Doctor Street, General Aviation, Cairns Airport, Aeroglen QLD 4870
- Note: There is no public transport available to this location
Parking space on the base itself is limited. The on-call parking spaces are reserved for doctors, pilots, and nurses who are on Aeromedical shifts. These are located under the covered area outside the operations entrance.
The grass verge directly in front of the base is a no parking zone and is subject to Cairns airport scrutiny; it is signed as a no-standing zone.
Tom MacDonald Drive parking bays are our overflow parking bays when on base parking is full. All RFDS bays are sign-posted.
Accessing the base
On your first day, head to the main entrance, where you will be greeted by the team at reception or your manager.
- For anyone requiring mobility assistance, access is via the main operations entry door
More information
Orientation
Upon your arrival on your first day at Cairns Base, you will receive an orientation plan that is developed specifically based on your role. Delivery of your plan can vary and, at times, can be fluid if operational requirements force a change in the plan timetable.
You will be set up with IT equipment (laptop, phone, etc.), Access/ID Card, ASIC (if the role has an operational need for an ASIC and the card has been received at the base before your arrival), and given time to complete your mandatory e-learning courses.
Accessing base car
If you have been allocated a base vehicle, you will collect keys from the Admin Office and complete the logbook.
If after hours, the keys will be in the reception area in blue plastic folders with the vehicle details included on each folder.
Work travel bookings
If you need to travel for work, please contact your manager first to obtain approval. Once approved, your manager will coordinate with our logistics team to ensure all travel bookings are arranged.
For flight nurses, please seek approval from your manager and then submit an eForms travel request on SharePoint to select your preferred flight times and accommodation.
Lifestyle
Cairns offers an unbeatable mix of tropical living, outdoor adventure and relaxed city convenience. Spend your mornings grabbing coffee along the Esplanade, your weekends exploring rainforest trails or swimming at nearby waterfalls, and your days off discovering the Great Barrier Reef by snorkel, glass-bottom boat or scenic helicopter.
Wander Rusty’s Markets for fresh, local produce, enjoy a huge range of dining options from casual cafes to waterfront fine dining, or unwind at the free, lifeguard-patrolled Cairns Lagoon right in the CBD.
With easy transport, year-round warm weather, and endless options for hiking, swimming, reef trips and relaxed social spots, Cairns is a place where work-life balance truly comes naturally.
Food recommendations:
- Wild Thyme
- Jimmys Burger & Co
- Crave Cairns
- Salt house
- The Pier Bar
- Howlin' Jay's
- KOI Bar & Restaurant
- Cairns Night Markets
