A day in the life with the Flying Doctor: Jessie’s bite-sized experience

A day in the life with the Flying Doctor: Jessie’s bite-sized experience

Article supplied by RFDS.

After spending a decade as a dental hygienist in a previous life, Jessie Burling was given the chance to go back to her roots with the RFDS Oral Health team.

As part of the RFDS’s national partnership with HCF, employee Jessie Burling won the unique opportunity through an internal competition at the not-for-profit health fund, joining the RFDS Oral Health team during a clinic in the remote town of Andamooka in Far North SA.

For Jessie, the experience with the RFDS was not just a professional milestone – it was a deeply personal journey, blending her passion for dental health and volunteer work in remote areas, including communities as far afield as Nepal, with her commitment to improving healthcare access in underserved regions.

HCF employee Jessie

Photo: RFDS national partner HCF’s Jessie Burling.

A personal journey into the outback

Jessie’s adventure began with a flight from Adelaide to Olympic Dam, before a short drive to Andamooka, a small outback town, located in Far North South Australia around 600 km north of Adelaide.

This is the journey the RFDS Oral Health team have to make, along with more than 350 kilograms of dental gear, when delivering care to remote communities like this.

Upon arrival, Jessie found the RFDS team busy setting up over 3,000 pieces of dental equipment, preparing to deliver much-needed care to local residents. For Jessie, who worked for 10 years as a dental hygienist, this was a rare opportunity to see the stark contrast between her role at HCF’s Bondi Junction dental clinic and the challenges faced by the RFDS team in the outback.

“When you’re living this far away from a city and you end up with an abscess or an infection in a tooth, that’s something that, if we weren’t coming in, could turn quite life-threatening,” of the RFDS SA/NT Senior Dentist and Manager Oral Health Program, Dr Vaibhav Garg said.

“We’re really focusing on prevention. There are direct links between oral health and other serious conditions like diabetes, cardiac health, and kidney disease. All of these issues can be challenging to manage in remote areas like this. Delivering these clinics is about taking care of the person as a whole, and therefore the whole community.”

RFDS Senior Dentist

Photo: Dr Vaibhav Garg with a patient in Andamooka.

The heart of community care

During her visit, Jessie also spent time with RFDS Remote Area Nurse Jack King, a familiar and trusted presence in Andamooka.

“The community knows that I’m a resident here and that speaks volumes to them,” Jack said.

“We live in an isolated environment, and our aim is to manage patients’ care as effectively as possible before they require non-urgent or non-life-threatening evacuation.

“It’s a real joy for me to come to work knowing that I can assess patients, get them seen by a doctor, and ensure they receive the comprehensive care they need.

“If we didn’t have funding including private sponsorship, those essential elements of primary health and wellbeing would go unfulfilled here.

“All of that is made possible by RFDS and the support we receive from partners like HCF. It’s pretty special.”

Remote Area Nurse Jack King

Photo: Remote Area Nurse Jack King.

A partnership making a difference

In support of HCF’s social mission to build healthier communities, HCF’s $3 million commitment over three years will help fund the upkeep of RFDS aircraft and life-saving technologies, ensuring the delivery of crucial primary healthcare and mental health services to every corner of Australia. The collaboration between RFDS and HCF is a tangible example of how partnerships can bring about real change.

RFDS SA/NT Executive General Manager, Strategy, Brand & Reputation, Charlie Paterson, highlighted the value of this synergy between the two not-for-profit organisations.

“HCF is all about providing the human touch to its healthcare, and that’s what RFDS is about.”

Jessie’s experience exposed her to the real-life impact of the partnership at work.

“It was an incredible and jam-packed 24 hours with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, seeing how they deliver medical interventions and preventative care to people out in the bush,” Jessie said.

“HCF and the Royal Flying Doctor Service have joined forces, combining their expertise to enhance healthcare access across Australia. Our shared focus on heart health, dental care, mental health, and women’s health are areas where we can make a significant difference together.”

Jessie and Vai

Photo: Andamooka is one of 14 remote communities where the RFDS Oral Health team visits regularly to deliver care.

Looking ahead

Jessie’s journey with the RFDS showcases the power of community and the difference that dedicated professionals and generous donors make every day.

“By doing what we do, day in and day out at HCF, we are part of an organisation that is bringing our human touch to healthcare,” Jessie said.

Through the support of donors and partners like HCF, the RFDS continues to be a lifeline for remote communities, ensuring that quality healthcare is accessible to all, no matter where they live.

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Focus on Flight Ops

Article supplied by CASA. 

Focus on flight ops
Welcome to July’s edition of Focus on flight ops.

In this issue we cover:

  • – training and checking systems (TCS) due date reminder
  • – TCS industry webinar recap
  • – benefits of using a Part 61 qualified person to conduct non-normal TCS activities
  • – knowing what’s in your operations manuals
  • – exemptions that may benefit your operations
  • – RotorTech wrap-up
  • – rotorcraft transition timeline update.
6 weeks left to submit your TCS documentation
Hopefully everyone is on track to submit their training and checking systems documentation to us by 31 August 2024. 
Catch up on recent TCS information sessions
If you missed out on attending our training and checking systems online info session, you can now watch the recording.

Join Greg and Andrea as they explain the ins-and-outs of what is required when submitting your training and checking documentation.

Conduct non-normal TCS activities with a Part 61 instructor
As you prepare to transition to TCS, did you know that you can use qualified Part 61 instructors and examiners to conduct airborne non-normal training and checking exercises without the need for our approval?
Knowing your manuals
Operators are accountable for understanding the details of their organisation’s operational manuals.
Exemptions that could streamline your operations
Did you know there are a range of exemptions that could help streamline your operations?

Exemptions provide you greater flexibility for implementing standard operating procedures at your organisation, such as avoiding the need to change your processes when you operate between multiple Parts.

Murray began bleeding out internally, after he hit the handlebars of his motorcross bike

Article supplied by RFDS. 

Childhood sweethearts, Murray and Julie Collins, have been together for over thirty years.

And throughout their time together, they have shared an unusual passion – for the adrenalin charged sport of motorcross racing.

But back in 2003, the wheels very nearly came off Murray’s motorcross adventures, when a random miscalculation mid-race almost cost him his life.

In Episode #98 of the Flying Doctor podcast, Murray and Julie recount the day when an inter-club motorcross race at Longreach ended up with Murray being airlifted by the RFDS, suffering from major internal bleeding.

Murray Collins still races motorcross, even after his near-fatal accident in 2003

The sport of Motorcross combines high speed and jostling for a position on the track, with the challenge of obstacles.

There’s even an obstacle section known as a ‘whoops’ – which is basically a series of continuous bumps that racers can ride over, as fast as they like.

On the day of his accident, Murray recalls taking the ‘whoops’ with confidence – as he was in the leading pack of racers! But after hitting the handlebars of his bike at high speed, Murray quickly realised he had ‘really done something’. Murray had ruptured his mesenteric artery and began severely bleeding into his abdomen.

Kelly was heavily pregnant when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour

Article supplied by RFDS.

In 2002, as a fit country woman eagerly awaiting the birth of her first child, Kelly Foran believed her issues with balance and co-ordination were simply related to her ever-growing ‘baby belly’. But after going to the hospital with her husband for some tests, Kelly was told she was likely succumbing to pre-eclampsia. Then a visiting ED Doctor noticed Kelly stumbling in the hospital corridor, he asked her if he could ‘run a few more tests’.

Kelly's baby, Jake, was born shortly after she was diagnosed witha  brain tumour

The scans Kelly underwent that night revealed a possible aneurism was pressing onto her brain and was threatening the life of both herself and her unborn child. But just hours later, she was told that the mass in her brain was a the size of a ‘goose egg’, and was actually one of the largest brain tumours that her Doctor had ever seen. Kelly, with her husband Dave by her side, were transported by the RFDS for life-saving treatments – while her medical team co-ordinated how to safely deliver Kelly’s baby into the world.

Kelly's baby Jake was diagnosed with eye cancer

After Kelly’s son Jake was delivered safely, he experienced a range of medical complications. Meanwhile, Kelly was told that her brain tumour needed to be shrunk via steroids before any operation would be feasible. So Kelly and her newborn baby were ‘sent home’ to await further operations and updates, not knowing whether Kelly was even likely to survive. But Kelly’s family’s health challenges were only just beginning. After undergoing a 16 hour operation to remove her own tumour, just a few months later, her baby Jake was diagnosed with cancer of the eye.

Kelly has dedicated her life to helping others through her Friendly Faces, Helping Hands Foundation

In this remarkable and inspiring episode #97 of the Flying Doctor Podcast, Kelly bravely shares how both she and her young son fought hard to stay alive. And how her experiences as a rural patient inspired her to start the ‘Friendly Faces, Helping Hands Foundation’ – an organisation dedicated to helping country patients and their families to navigate the often daunting requirements of attending city-based medical treatments and appointments.

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Preventing VFR into IMC

preventing VFR into IMC

Article supplied by CASAWe’ve compiled some useful resources to help visual flight rules (VFR) pilots avoid instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).

A wet airport taxiway under a cloudy sky

Flying VFR into IMC is one of the top causes of aviation accidents around the world. Australia is no exception. The often fatal outcomes of these accidents are even more tragic because they are avoidable.

The key to prevention is thorough pre-flight planning and a personal minimums checklist. This minimises poor or incorrect decision-making caused by the stress of flying into marginal weather.

Common factors

Most inadvertent VFR flights into IMC have common factors:

  • > rushed and incomplete pre-flight planning
  • > misinterpreting/underestimating of threats associated with weather forecasts
  • > overconfidence in adverse conditions
  • > overestimating cloud heights and visibility
  • > using phrases like “scud running”, “she’ll be right, I’ve done this in worse conditions” and “we’re close to our destination”.
  • > pressure from passengers to go
  • > pressure from yourself to go.

All the resources listed below are available on the website. You can also visit the weather and forecasting page of the Pilot safety hub.

Resources

Videos

Articles

Audios

Online store

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RFDS to open its first permanent GP clinic in Kalgoorlie

RFDS to open its first permanent GP clinic in Kalgoorlie

Article supplied by RFDS.  The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Western Australia (RFDS WA) will open its first permanent GP clinic in Kalgoorlie in late 2024 to support the growing demand for primary health care in the Goldfields.

RFDS GP with patient

The establishment of the GP clinic is a key initiative in the RFDS WA’s 2024 – 2028 Strategy Above & Beyond and marks the beginning of a broader primary health care expansion for the RFDS, with plans to establish additional GP clinics in other regions across WA where it’s needed most.

The GP clinic in Kalgoorlie will complement the medical services already available to the Goldfields community.

A key feature of the clinic will be the involvement of allied health students who will work alongside GPs, providing a holistic health experience for patients. 

This model also offers regional training opportunities for the next generation of health care workers, encouraging them to remain in the regions where demand for medical care is greatest.

The new RFDS GP clinic is made possible with the support of Curtin University, the WA Country Health Service and Northern Star Resources. Further information about the clinic including the launch date, location and opening times will be available soon.

If you or someone you know is interested in working for the RFDS, please view our current vacancies.

RFDS WA Retrieval Nurse Beth with Northern Star

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Celebrating the past

RFDS celebrating past

Article supplied by RFDS

On 30 May 2024, the Flying Doctor family came together to take a step back in time to reflect on the year 1934 and celebrate the incredible drive and determination that would progress aviation and set the platform for what would become RFDS.

The evening was hosted by television presenter Michael Rowland, and featured the historical accounts of the extraordinary MacRobertson London to Melbourne Air Race as told by Australian entertainer and comedian Titus O’Reily. The magnificent Michelle Berner and the “Fresh Dancers” also appeared as a surprise musical performance during the night’s proceedings.

The year 1934 holds a special place for RFDS and all Victorians. In the middle of The Great Depression, the eyes of the world shifted to Melbourne as the destination for a groundbreaking air race, part of the Centenary Celebrations that aimed to unite the public and inspire hope. In that same year, in a back room of the Commercial Travellers’ Association on Flinders Street, Rev John Flynn and his dedicated team worked tirelessly to draft a constitution for a new organisation that would ultimately be known as the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

It was a premise that ran through the entire night, paying tribute to those who push through in challenging times to drive innovation for the future.

In keeping with this theme, retiring RFDS Victoria Chief Executive Scott Chapman AM was recognised for his lasting impact over the past 14 years. The wide range of RFDS Victoria’s current primary health services, along with patient transport by air and road, have all been instigated in Scott’s tenure; however, it is the personal stories from clients and families that truly explain his impact.

In addition to many dedicated donors and supporters, the dinner was well supported by numerous Members of Parliament, along with corporate partners, stakeholders and ambassadors. Thanks to their generous support, the gala dinner raised more than $100,000 through sponsorships, in-kind donations and fundraising activities on the night.

RFDS Victoria would like to particularly acknowledge APT Luxury Travel as the Principal Partner for the event. It was wonderful to celebrate the humble beginnings of both brands and we look forward to continuing to build on the relationship for the benefit of the communities we serve.

A big thank you is also extended to JBWere as Major Partner for the night, the second time they have supported the Going the Distance Dinner in such a meaningful way.

Additionally, we would also like to acknowledge our wonderful business partners for supporting this event – Biomedical Solutions, Delaware North, Oris and Oakdene Vineyards.

We would also like to thank all those individuals and organisations that donated items to our live and silent auctions, including:

  • Alba Thermal Springs
  • Allan and Shelley Green
  • APT Luxury Travel
  • Aesop
  • At Your Table
  • Delaware North
  • Elizabeth Hooley
  • Endota Spa
  • Geelong Football Club
  • Hawthorn Football Club
  • Hyatt Centric
  • Kakadu Traders Australia
  • LaManna
  • Love Athletica
  • Marriner Group
  • Melbourne and Olympic Parks
  • Melbourne Storm
  • Melbourne Victory Football Club
  • Nimbus & Co
  • Oris
  • Puffing Billy Railway
  • RACV City Club
  • SleepMaker
  • Starward Whisky
  • The National Golf Club
  • Verve Portraits

Finally, a very special thank you to Anthony Jaye Choreography, Michael Rowland, Michelle Berner, Kelvin Shelley, Peter Jones Special Events, and Titus O’Reily.

A photo from the 2024 RFDS Vic GTDD
A photo from the 2024 RFDS Vic GTDD
A photo from the 2024 RFDS Vic GTDD
A photo from the 2024 RFDS Vic GTDD
A photo from the 2024 RFDS Vic GTDD

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Maintenance Month takes flight

CASA maintenance month May

Get ready for the month of May to turn purple as we’re shining a light on all thing’s maintenance engineering, during our inaugural Maintenance Month.

Maintenance month

We’re highlighting the pivotal role of aircraft maintenance engineers while also inspiring individuals to explore career opportunities as aircraft mechanics.

Throughout May, our communication channels will be drenched in purple as we host a series of engaging online webinars featuring our very own engineer experts.

Additionally, we are excited to announce an exclusive social media competition for aircraft maintenance engineers and apprentices, with an opportunity to win one of three $500 Snap-on Tools voucher.

Furthermore, Maintenance Month will serve as a showcase of the diverse and rewarding career opportunities available within the field of aircraft maintenance.

From highlighting the technical prowess required to ensuring aircraft safety to emphasising the meticulous attention to detail inherent in every aspect of maintenance work, this initiative aims to foster a deeper appreciation for the crucial work carried out by aircraft maintenance professionals.

Be sure to check out our communication and social media channels and spread the word the word to you friends, colleagues and stakeholders.

Snap-on Tools social media competition

Calling all aircraft apprentices and aircraft maintenance engineers — we’ve got a competition exclusively for you!

Is your toolbox looking a little bare?

This is your opportunity to give it a boost with top-notch equipment, with the chance to win 1 of 3 $500 Snap-on Tools vouchers!

How to enter

To enter:

  1. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
  2. Subscribe to our aircraft maintenance engineer mailing list.
  3. Tag a fellow engineer who should also participate!

Entries close 4pm Friday 24 May.Terms and conditions

Winners will be randomly selected.

One entry per person.

You must have completed all 3 items under ‘How to enter’. You must also provide proof of your occupation as either one of the following:

  • an aircraft apprentice
  • an aircraft trade assistant
  • unlicensed aircraft maintenance engineer.

Open to Australian residents only.

This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook or Instagram.

We’ll notify the winners via email and how to claim their voucher.

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Ella was 35 weeks pregnant & driving an outback truck when her waters broke!

Ella was 35 weeks pregnant & driving an outback truck when her waters broke!

When transport company owners, Ella Reindler and her husband Dave, set out on ‘one last trucking trip’ from Perth to the remote Kimberley, they knew it would likely be their last road trip together as a couple, before their new baby arrived.

But neither of them expected that, at just 35 weeks pregnant, Ella’s waters would break in the middle of nowhere and hundreds of kilometres away from the nearest hospital.

Both Ella and Dave are extremely experienced outback travellers, regularly driving thousands of kilometres across some of the remotest parts of WA and often camping in isolated outback locations for weeks at a time.

But when this hard-working young couple realised their baby had decided to arrive prematurely on the road between Halls Creek and Warmun, neither of them felt particularly prepared

Ella holding baby Lucas in front of prime mover truck.

In this extraordinary Episode #88 of the Flying Doctor podcast, Ella recounts how – with Dave exhausted after 15 hours of driving – she climbed into the driver’s seat and headed for Kununurra Hospital.

Given the baby’s premature gestation, Ella was soon loaded onto an RFDS flight to Broome.

But Dave (you guessed it) hopped back into their truck and drove another1000km plus, to help welcome a healthy baby Lucas into the world.

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Link to RFDS Podcast – #88 Ella was 35 weeks pregnant & driving an outback truck when her waters broke!

Angel Flight & IFFR- kindred spirits of the sky

Angel Flight & IFFR- kindred spirits of the sky

One of the best kept secrets in Rotary is the number of Fellowships, over 100 recently counted which cater for the special interest of their many members.

Rotary Fellowships are international groups that share a common passion. Being part of a fellowship is a fun way to make friends around the world, explore a hobby or profession, and enhance your Rotary experience.

These groups help expand skills, foster vocational development, and enhance the Rotary experience by exploring interests while developing connections around the world.

The International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians (“IFFR”) is one such group of like-minded aviation enthusiasts, some of whom are either aspiring, current or past pilots, who enjoy the fun and fellowship of getting together twice a year in interesting places around the globe.

Globally they are some 1,200 IFFR members, mostly active Rotarians, who proudly wear their IFFR “Wings” spreading the word about Rotary in their respective communities whilst linking their passion for aviation through offering “Service Above Self”, often engaging as volunteers in the emerging concept of “Public Benefit Flying”.

In Australia and New Zealand there are some 120 members in the ranks of IFFR. The concept of Public Benefit Flying is very familiar to them, some also being active pilots or Earth Angels for Angel Flight.

According to Mike McFarlane, who is a long time Angel Flight pilot volunteer and currently IFFR’s VP Asia & Australasia, “There is no better form of flying for a pilot than Angel Flights where you can enjoy your passion for aviation and at the same time make a real and visible difference to another person in need of ongoing medical help”.

Rob Hannemann who is the current IFFR Australian President 2022-24 and an Angel Flight pilot believes there is a natural fit between Angel Flight volunteers and IFFR members. Both groups are dedicated to doing good in the world. He believes, “there is the opportunity for other Angel Flight folk to join in the adventures of IFFR on six-monthly Fly-Aways plus importantly more IFFR members become part of Angel Flight family”.

Angel Flight CEO Marjorie Pagani sees great scope for working together for our mutual benefit building on Rotary’s “Service Above Self” to involve more Rotarians in the activities of Angel flight and IFFR. As Marjorie says, “In a similar vein to Rotary, the success of Angel Flight is due to the fact that our volunteers gain enormous satisfaction from giving their skills and resources to help fellow Australians in need. It is their way of making a very personal contribution to the community in which they live. The natural synergy between Rotary and Angel Flight has led to an enduring relationship and one we intend to build upon to bolster our community service position and ultimately, help more people in need. ”

There is no doubt that Angel Flight, Rotary and IFFR are community service kindred spirits; committed to doing good in the world by extending a helping hand and providing their talents, skills and resources to those in need.

The next two IFFR Australian FlyAways are in Queensland- 12-15th April from Toowoomba and another in October with details upon request. Angel Flight Pilots and Earth Angels would be most welcome to join in the fun and fellowship; just call Rob or Mike for the weekend details.

For information on IFFR or Angel Flight, please contact PP Rob Hannemann, Australian IFFR President 2022-24 on 0439 754 290 or PP Mike McFarlane IFFR WPE 2024-26 on 0418 317 418.

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