The RFDS in WA
Responding to need across WA
Graphic: A Day in the Life of the RFDS in WA
Western Australia is a vast and remote state and making sure people across the regions have access to health care and emergency, life-saving treatment is what we do at the Royal Flying Doctor Service Western Operations.
We are a 94 year old charity that deeply cares about our patients and communities throughout WA.
We believe that everyone, no matter where they live, deserves to have skilled and caring doctors and nurses to help them look after their health, and to treat them during emergencies while flying to specialist care.
We have a team of medical clinicians and pilots who are committed to providing the finest care to the furthest corner of WA. Together we provide fast, free and efficient emergency retrievals, GP health clinics, dentistry, telehealth and medical chests. We bring the hospital emergency room, GP clinic, dentist chair, pharmacy and our dedicated professionals to patients when they need us the most.
We do this across WA - the world’s largest health jurisdiction – through our five aeromedical bases located at Broome, Port Hedland, Meekatharra, Kalgoorlie and Jandakot. We have an integrated world class aeromedical fleet of 17 Pilatus PC-12 turbo prop aircraft, 3 Rio Tinto LifeFlight PC-24 jets and 2 Fortescue Heli-Med EC145 helicopters.
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Acknowledgement of Country and People
Looking after people on Country is a unique and important part of the work we do. We work hard to keep people in their communities and reassure them when we need to fly them to specialist medical care before returning them to their land.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service Western Operations (RFDS WO) respects and acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Islander peoples as the first Australians and our vision for reconciliation is a culture that strives for unity, equity and respect between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and other Australians.
The RFDS WO is committed to improve health outcomes and access to health services for all Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
"We knew she was in safe hands..."
"We knew she was in safe hands..."
“We did not anticipate the situation of our gorgeous girl, Calvary, arriving early. The panic set in straight away on how to get her over to Melbourne for the open-heart surgery she required.” Sofia said.
Read "We knew she was in safe hands..."Graphic:
Jandakot RFDS Base
The Jandakot base was established in 1964 and is located at Jandakot Airport, the second busiest airport in the Southern Hemisphere. Jandakot is the primary transfer base in WA, with administrative offices, state wide coordination centre, training facilities for nurses, doctors and pilots, an engineering hangar and patient transfer facilities. As the primary transfer base, Jandakot receives patients from all over the state, and performs patient repatriation to remote locations around WA.
Graphic:
Broome RFDS Base
The Broome facilities were established in 2016 and are the first new facilities in Western Australia in 50 years. The facilities are located at the Broome International Airport on Gus Winckel Drive. The demand for our services has steadily increased over the past five years in the Kimberley region, and the Broome facilities will ensure that we can continue to meet the increasing and changing patient demand for our aero medical services in the north of our state. With two hangars, a state of the art patient treatment centre and administrative offices our Broome facilities are in place to bolster our capability and increase efficiency.
Graphic:
Kalgoorlie RFDS Base
The Kalgoorlie Base was
established in 1937. Located at the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport in the
Goldfields, 596km from Perth, the Kalgoorlie Base maintains an administration
office, a visitor centre and hangar facilities. The base conducts regular tours
for tourists and visitors and runs a busy operation servicing the goldfields
and beyond.
Kalgoorlie operates emergency transfers to Kalgoorlie District Hospital, inter hospital transfers to Perth, health clinics from Kalgoorlie to Eucla along the Eyre Highway and fundraising, tours and merchandise at the visitor centre and shop.
Graphic:
Meekatharra RFDS Base
The Meekatharra base was
established in 1945 and is located 760km from Perth at the Meekatharra Airport.
The base was built in Perth and transported to Meekatharra where it was installed
adjacent to the RFDS hangar facilities at the airport.
The base conducts emergency transfers to Meekatharra District Hospital, inter hospital transfers to Perth and fortnightly primary health clinics in the Mid West and Gascoyne regions.
Graphic:
Port Hedland RFDS Base
The Port Hedland base was established in 1935. Located at the Port Hedland Airport in the Pilbara, 1,700km from Perth, this base operates emergency transfers to Hedland Health Campus; inter hospital transfers to Perth and primary health clinics to the Pilbara regions.
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29th July 1917, the accident of stockman Jim Darcy causes a chain of events that eventually leads to the founding of the Flying Doctor Service in Australia. For more information on the founding of the RFDS, read more here.
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The monument which is a representation of her Mooney aircraft commemorates pilot and nurse Robin Miller Dicks who was known as "The Sugar Bird Lady."
Robin Miller (1940 - 1975), known as "The Sugarbird Lady", was an Australian aviatrix and nurse. The name "The Sugarbird Lady" was given to her by outback Aboriginal children during her work combatting polio. She died of cancer at the age of 35. In 1973 she married Harold Dicks, the director of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and became Robin Miller Dicks. After her death, Dicks set up an AUD$50,000 memorial foundation to help nurses get flying licences. Robin Miller Dicks was the daughter of writer and historian Dame Mary Durack and pioneer aviator Horrie Miller OBE.
