RFDS rolls up for WA

For more than 90 years, the Royal Flying Doctor Service has helped people living in rural and remote Western Australia overcome the tyranny of distance to access essential healthcare.

Today, we continue to deliver on that promise, in our response and recovery to the COVID-19 pandemic. We celebrate the courage and resilience of our frontline crews who, since the outbreak, have safely retrieved 131 suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients, helicoptered onto ships to conduct COVID-19 testing and transported essential health workers, equipment and pathology samples across WA.

In May this year, the RFDS marked an historical milestone by answering the call from the Federal Government to provide vaccination clinics in WA’s vast and remote regions. Coordinating our remote vaccination program to ensure we reach people living in the furthest corners of Western Australia is no easy feat and is a true team effort.

We are proud to share with you stories from our people who continue to adapt and find creative solutions to ensure all Western Australians, no matter where they live, have access to the vaccines and can #rollupforwa. So far, our COVID-19 vaccination team has travelled thousands of kilometres by air and road to reach people living in the Goldfields, Pilbara, Kimberley and Midwest regions to provide first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

When visiting and working in Aboriginal communities, our clinicians work with local health services to seek the advice and permission of Elders to develop trust and strong relationships with our patients. With their help, our people are warmly welcomed by community members.

Thank you for your support as we continue our efforts to protect and ensure Western Australians living across the world’s largest and most remote health jurisdiction can be vaccinated.

Collaboration is key for remote clinics.

"I was hesitant at first but I thought given how much we interact with tourists and travellers, it’s best to stay safe and to move forward," Scott Lotona, Border Village Roadhouse Manager.

"I came to get my vaccine today because one of my sisters is actually pregnant and working as a quarantine officer puts me at increased risk," Amanda Ellison, Eucla resident.

Remote vaccines

Our dedicated COVID-19 vaccination team are rolling up to some of the State’s most isolated communities.  Donate at: rfdswa.com.au/spring