The RFDS in SA/NT
What we do
Every year, we assist more than 47,000 patients in South Australia and the Northern Territory - that's one patient every 10 minutes.
RFDS SA/NT began in 1939 and delivers emergency aeromedical and community healthcare services throughout South Australia and the Northern Territory, be it an aeromedical evacuation, a GP and Community Health Nurse clinic, a telehealth call, a mental health or oral health clinic, or a child's immunisation.
We operate four aeromedical bases in Adelaide, Alice Springs, Darwin and Port Augusta, as well as three remote primary healthcare facilities in Andamooka, Marla and Marree in outback South Australia.
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.
Find out more our services below.
Emergency aeromedical service
A farmer pinned under a tractor, a child with a snakebite, a motor vehicle accident on a remote dirt road or a sudden severe illness. The RFDS provides 24/7 emergency aeromedical evacuations throughout outback Australia for people who are seriously ill or injured and require urgent medical attention.
Outback Community Health Services
The RFDS is committed to delivering whole-of-life community health services to help outback, rural and remote Australians live happier and healthier lives. In any given year, the RFDS delivers more than 13,000 community health consultations across South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Inter-Hospital Patient Transfers
In South Australia and the Northern Territory, the RFDS transfers 20 patients a day from country hospitals to metropolitan hospitals for life-saving treatment or higher levels of care.
Remote Oral Health Care
The RFDS Oral Health Care Program offers a mobile dental and oral health care service to residents and communities throughout rural and remote South Australia and the Northern Territory. Regular ‘fly-in’ clinics provide opportunities for people of all ages living in remote locations to access high-quality dental care at no cost to the patient.
Mental Health and Wellbeing in SA/NT
The RFDS Mental Health & Wellbeing Service supports adults and young people in outback South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Education & Training SA/NT
We offer a range of training programs including education for doctors and nurses to keep their emergency skills up to date, as well as First Aid training for people living in remote communities. RFDS Central Operations also offers a range of placements for medical and nursing students.
Graphic:
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.
Graphic:
RFDS SA/NT | Andamooka Community Health Service
Opening Hours:
Monday - Friday | 9am-5pm
On-Call emergency services are provided after hours.
The Andamooka Health Service provides:
- Registered Nurse primary health care service
- Home visits
- Referrals
- 24-hour medical consultation and ambulance service.
Clinic Bookings:
E: andamooka@flyingdoctor.net
P: (08) 8672 7087
Graphic:
RFDS SA/NT | Innamincka Community Health Service.
Innamincka Community Health Service offers the following health services:
- Remote Area Nursing team offering primary health needs.
- Virtual Care - appointments with Rural Generalist Doctor, Midwife or Mental Health Specialist over the phone or video call.
- Face-to-face primary health service that visits fortnightly.
Opening Hours:
Monday - Friday | 9am-5pm
Clinic Bookings:
E: clinicbookings@flyingdoctor.net
P: (08) 8080 3790
Graphic:
RFDS SA/NT | Marla Community Health Service.
Opening Hours:
Monday - Friday | 9am-5pm
Marla Community Health Service offers the following health services:
- Registered Nurse primary health care service
- Home visits
- Referrals
- 24-hour medical consultation and ambulance service.
Clinic Bookings:
E: clinicbookings@flyingdoctor.net
P: 08) 8670 7007
Graphic:
RFDS SA/NT | Marree Community Health Service
Opening Hours:
Monday - Friday | 8am-5pm
On-Call emergency services are provided after hours.
The Marree Health Service provides:
- Registered Nurse primary health care service
- Home visits
- Referrals
- Short-stay facility
- 24-hour medical consultation and ambulance service.
Clinic Bookings:
E: clinicbookings@flyingdoctor.net
P: (08) 8675 8345.
Arckaringa.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Billa Kalina.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Blinman.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Bulgunnia.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Cadney.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Clifton Hills.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Commonwealth Hill.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Cook.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Dulkaninna.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Glendambo.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Hiltaba.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Ingomar.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Kingoonya.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Lake Everard.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
McDouall Peak.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Mobella.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Mt Eba.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Mt. Ive.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Mt Lyndhurst.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Mulgathing.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Mungerannie.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Murnpeowie.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Nilpinna.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Nullarbor Roadhouse.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Oak Valley (Tullawon Clinic).
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Oodnadatta Clinic (SA Health).
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
The Peake.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Twins.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
William Creek.
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Yalata (Tullawon Clinic).
For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.
Our Fleet
Our FleetPilatus PC-12
RFDS SA/NT operates 18 Pilatus PC-12 aircraft capable of carrying two stretchered patients in a full aeromedical fitout. They have a hydraulic lifting device to move stretchers on and off the aircraft through a dedicated cargo door. There are seats for a Doctor, Flight Nurse and one passenger.
Pilatus PC-24
RFDS SA/NT took delivery of its first permanently configured aeromedical jet in 2019, the RFDS Medi-Jet 24. A game changer in aeromedical care, the RFDS Medi-Jet 24 slashes total mission time and delivers three critically-ill patients the finest care in the air.
