The RFDS in SA/NT

Graphic: To me RFDS brand campaign

Caring for Australians,
from the ground up.

Every year, we assist more than 56,000 patients in South Australia and the Northern Territory (Central Operations) - that's one patient every 10 minutes.

What we do

Graphic: RFDS Central Operations 'To Me'

Real stories. Real patients.

Click to watch real stories from real patients, and learn how your Flying Doctor is caring for Australians, from the ground up.

To Me

Graphic: Donate to the RFDS SA/NT

Help keep the
Flying Doctor flying.

The RFDS is a not-for-profit organisation. While we receive support from governments, we rely on fundraising and donations to bridge the gap in operational funding, and to finance replacement aircraft, medical equipment and other major capital initiatives.

Donate to SA/NT

Latest news stories

RFDS patient Robert Crilly

When ritual meets rescue: Robert's story

27 May 2023

During a cultural ceremony in outback South Australia, Robert was struck by a sudden illness, sparking deep concern among family and friends. In need of urgent medical help, he was hundreds of kilometres from the nearest major hospital.

Read full story
In hot water: Louis' story

In hot water: Louis' story

24 May 2023

When a quiet day out on an outback lake went terribly wrong, Louis was left clutching his lifeless leg, calling out to mates for help. That's when they called the RFDS.

Read full story

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Adelaide RFDS Base

RFDS corporate and operational relocated in September 2016 to a new Adelaide Base constructed as the first tenant in Adelaide Airport's new Aeromedical Precinct adjacent to the main runway off Tapleys Hill Road.

Address

1 Tower Road
Adelaide Airport SA 5950

Telephone

08 8238 3333

Fax

08 8238 3395

Email

enquiries@flyingdoctor.net

Adelaide RFDS Base

The Adelaide Base and its team of Pilots and Flight Nurses provide 24-hour emergency retrievals and inter-hospital transfers, serving all regions of South Australia, as well as the Sunraysia region of Victoria. The Adelaide Base is also home to our Engineering team which conducts heavy maintenance for the aircraft fleet situated across SA. A foundation tenant of the aeromedical precinct at the western end of Adelaide Airport, the Adelaide Base also houses the Executive, Corporate Services, Marketing & Public/Stakeholder Relations, People & Culture and Health Services teams of the organisation.

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RFDS Darwin Base

Address

10a Lancaster Road
Eaton NT

Telephone

08 8998 9940

Fax

08 8998 9942

Email

enquiries@flyingdoctor.net

Darwin RFDS Base

Darwin Base commenced operations in December 2017. The new purpose-built facility enables the RFDS to fulfil its strategic goal of providing the finest care through the entire north-south corridor of the Northern Territory and South Australia. The Base provides 24-hour emergency evacuations and inter-hospital transfers in addition to regular charter services to NT Health for the transport of health professionals delivering remote fly-in clinics throughout the Top End.


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Alice Springs RFDS Base

Address

28 Davis Drive Alice
Alice Springs

Telephone

08 8958 8600

Fax

08 8958 8680

Email

enquiries@flyingdoctor.net

Alice Springs RFDS Base

The Alice Springs Base provides 24-hour emergency evacuations and inter-hospital transfers by our team of Pilots, Flight Nurses and Engineers. It serves an area of approximately 1.25 million square kilometres from Marla in northern South Australia to Elliot and Barkly Tableland in the Northern Territory, and beyond the border regions of Western Australia and Queensland. Crews also provide regular charter services to NT Health for the transport of health professionals working throughout Central Australia. The Mental Health Services Rural & Remote Areas Program delivered by RFDS mental health clinicians is also based in Alice Springs.

Alice Springs is also home to our award-winning RFDS Alice Springs Tourist Facility, which in recent years has undergone a major redevelopment to enhance its presence and improve the tourist experience for locals and visitors from all over the world. The RFDS Alice Springs Base also benefits from the Bill and Dawn Prior Village of 13 townhouses used as accommodation for staff and visiting clinicians.

Andamooka Health Service

Opening hours: 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday.

Address

Hospital Road
Andamooka, SA 5722

Telephone

(08) 8672 7087

Fax

(08) 8672 7222

Email

andamooka@flyingdoctor.net

Andamooka Health Service

Andamooka Health Service is staffed by two Remote Area Nurses who provide primary health care, home visiting, referrals, 24-hour medical consultation and 4WD emergency ambulance services. 

RFDS remote clinics also provide a platform to promote and deliver other RFDS primary and preventative health programs such as oral health, chronic disease management and mental health care as an extension to the RFDS Primary Health Care Service.

For emergency calls and evacuations call 1800 RFDS SA (1800 733 772)


Marla Health Service

Opening hours: 9am - 5pm Monday - Friday

Address

8 Cockatoo Crescent
Marla, SA 5274

Telephone

(08) 8670 7007

Fax

(08) 8672 7007

Email

marla@flyingdoctor.net

Marla Health Service

The Marla Health Service  is staffed by two Remote Area Nurses who provide primary health care, home visiting, referrals, 24-hour medical consultation and 4WD emergency ambulance services. RFDS remote clinics also provide a platform to promote and deliver other RFDS primary and preventative health programs such as oral health, chronic disease management and mental health care as an extension to the RFDS Primary Health Care Service.

For emergency calls or evacuations call 1800 RFDS SA (1800 733 772)


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Marree Health Service

Opening hours: 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday

Address

First Street
Maree SA 5733

Telephone

08 8675 8345

Fax

08 8675 8385

Email

marree@flyingdoctor.net

Marree Health Service

Marree Health Service is staffed by two Remote Area Nurses who provide primary health care, home visiting, referrals, 24-hour medical consultation and 4WD emergency ambulance services. RFDS remote clinics also provide a platform to promote and deliver other RFDS primary and preventative health programs such as oral health, chronic disease management and mental health care as an extension to the RFDS Primary Health Care Service.


For emergency calls and evacuations call 1800 RFDS SA (1800 733 772)

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Port Augusta RFDS Base

Address

Port Augusta Airport
Port Augusta, SA 5700

Telephone

08 8648 9500

Fax

08 8648 9591

Email

enquiries@flyingdoctor.net

Port Augusta RFDS Base

RFDS Central Operations’ state-of-the-art Operations Communications Centre is located at Port Augusta Base, from which our Operations Coordinators receive emergency calls, plan and assign all 24-hour emergency retrieval and inter-hospital transfer flights from Adelaide, Alice Springs, Port Augusta and Darwin, whilst also providing after-hours back up for the Broken Hill Base (operated by South Eastern Section).

The Port Augusta Base is headquarters of the RFDS Primary Health Care Service which serves an area of 840,000 square kilometres, providing comprehensive primary health care services to residents in the Far West and North West regions of SA. Services include 24-hour tele-health consultations, remote fly-in primary health care clinics offering specialist chronic disease, mental health, oral health, maternal health, breast cancer and community health nurses/clinicians. 

In addition to our core of Doctors, Pilots, Flight Nurses, Engineers and Operations Coordinators, our Aboriginal Health Coordinator, Community Health Nurses, Lifestyle Advisor, Dentist and Dental Hygienist are based in Port Augusta enabling them to focus on serving people in isolated communities.

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Darwin Tourist Facility

Address

39 Stokes Hill Road
Stokes Hill Wharf, Darwin, NT 0800

Telephone

(08) 8983 5700

Email

rfdsdarwin@flyingdoctor.net

RFDS Darwin Tourist Facility brings together two iconic Australian stories: the history of the RFDS and the Bombing of Darwin in 1942. Visitors will be taken into another world with the latest virtual reality and holographic technology. Located at Darwin's historic Stokes Hill Wharf, the facility is operated by the RFDS in partnership with NT Tourism.

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John Flynn's Grave

Address

Larapinta Drive, Alice Springs
Northern Territory 0870 Australia

Telephone

89 518 250

The John Flynn's Memorial Historical Reserve is the resting place for the ashes of the Reverend John Flynn, founder of the Flying Doctor Service and the Australian Inland Mission.

The grave is on a low hill at the foot of the MacDonnell Ranges. The plaque expresses a lifetime achievement in just a few lines "His vision encompassed the continent". He established the Australian Inland Mission and founded the Royal Flying Doctor Service. He brought to lonely places a spiritual ministry and spread a mantle of safety over them by medicine and the radio.’

Click here to know more about John Reverend Flynn. 

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RFDS Alice Springs Tourist Facility

Address

8-10 Stuart Terrace
Alice Springs, NT 0870

Telephone

08 8958 8411

Fax

08 8958 8490

Email

reservations@flyingdoctor.net

RFDS Alice Springs Tourist Facility

The RFDS Alice Springs Tourist Facility is a leading tourist attraction in Central Australia. Set in the original 1939 heritage building which housed the first RFDS Alice Springs Base radio operator, it features a life-size hologram of RFDS founder Reverend John Flynn who takes visitors through the history of the Flying Doctor from 1928 until the present. It also has a café and DocShop.

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School of the Air

OPENING HOURS

01 February - 28 February 2022Monday to Friday: 12pm - 3pmClosed on weekends and public holidays

01 March - 31 March 2022Monday to Friday: 10am - 3pmClosed on weekends and public holidays

01 April 2022 until further noticeMonday to Friday: 9am - 3pmSaturdays: 1.30pm - 4.30pmSundays: 11.30am - 4.30pmPublic Holidays: 1.30pm - 4.30pm

*Closed Good Friday

Note: We are currently closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays. Please check our website and social media pages for opening hour updates.

Address

80 Head Street, Alice Springs NT 0870
PO Box 1220, Alice Springs NT 0871

Telephone

+61 8 8951 6834

Email

visitorcentre@assoa.nt.edu.au

The Alice Springs School of the Air Experience is one of the most popular, unique and authentic attractions in Central Australia.

A trip to the Alice Springs School of the Air Visitor Centre will bring to life an integral and unique facet of the children’s lives in the Australian Outback. You will hear their stories of school from afar, life on the land, and share in their dreams, achievements, and journeys along with the major role played by the RFDS.