The RFDS in SA/NT

What we do

Every year, we assist more than 56,000 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.

RFDS Emergency Aeromedical Service

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.

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RFDS Outback Community Health Services

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.

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RFDS Inter-Hospital Patient Transfers

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.

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RFDS Remote Oral Health 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.

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RFDS Mental Health & Wellbeing

Mental Health & Wellbeing

The RFDS Mental Health & Wellbeing Service supports adults and young people in outback South Australia and the Northern Territory.

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students with flight nurse in aircraft

Education & Training

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.

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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. 

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Andamooka

Telephone

(08) 8672 7087

Email

andamooka@flyingdoctor.net

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

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Innamincka

Telephone

(08) 8080 3790

Email

clinicbookings@flyingdoctor.net

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

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    Marla

    Telephone

    (08) 8670 7007

    Email

    clinicbookings@flyingdoctor.net

    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

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    Marree

    Telephone

    (08) 8675 8345

    Email

    marree@flyingdoctor.net

    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

    Arckaringa.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Balcanoona

    Balcanoona.


    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Billa Kalina

    Billa Kalina.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Bilnman

    Blinman.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Bulgunnia

    Bulgunnia.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Cadney

    Cadney.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Clifton Hills

    Clifton Hills.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Commonwealth Hill

    Commonwealth Hill.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Cook

    Cook.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Coorabie

    Coorabie.


    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Cowarie

    Cowarie.


    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Dulkaninna

    Dulkaninna.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Etadunna

    Etadunna.


    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Glendambo

    Glendambo.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Hiltaba

    Hiltaba.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Ingomar

    Ingomar.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Kingoonya

    Kingoonya.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Lake Everard

    Lake Everard.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Leigh Creek

    Leigh Creek.


    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    McDouall Peak

    McDouall Peak.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Mobella

    Mobella.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Mt Eba

    Mt Eba.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Mt. Ive

    Mt. Ive.


    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Mt Lyndhurst

    Mt Lyndhurst.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Mulgathing

    Mulgathing.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Muloorina

    Muloorina.


    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Mungerannie

    Mungerannie.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Murnpeowie

    Murnpeowie.


    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Murnpeowie

    Murnpeowie.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Nilpinna

    Nilpinna.


    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Nullarbor Roadhouse

    Nullarbor Roadhouse.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Oak Valley (Tullawon Clinic)

    Oak Valley (Tullawon Clinic).

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Oodnadatta

    Oodnadatta Clinic (SA Health).


    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here

    The Peake

    The Peake.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Todmorden

    Todmorden.


    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Twins

    Twins.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    William Creek

    William Creek.

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Yalata (Tullawon Clinic)

    Yalata (Tullawon Clinic).

    For more information, including visit frequency and times, click here.

    Our Fleet

    Our Fleet

    Pilatus PC-12

    RFDS Central Operations 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 Central Operations 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.

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