CareFlight crews prepare to board a rapid-response helicopter. CareFlight is celebrating 40 years of aeromedical care, with Moree among the regional locations supporting its northern NSW Patient Transport Service. Image supplied by CareFlight.
CareFlight is marking 40 years of aeromedical care, with the milestone highlighting the organisation’s ongoing role in supporting patients from Moree and surrounding communities.
Moree is one of the regional locations supporting CareFlight’s northern NSW Patient Transport Service, helping connect regional patients with specialist hospitals in Sydney and Newcastle when treatment or procedures are unavailable locally.
Bringing care to the patient
When CareFlight began operations in July 1986, its model involved bringing doctors and paramedics directly to patients rather than focusing only on transporting them to hospital.
The organisation described the approach as “flying the hospital to the patient”, allowing critical treatment and stabilisation to begin before a patient reached hospital.
Founding member and retired CareFlight pilot John Hoad said helicopter rescue had largely focused on flying patients to hospital when the organisation was established.
“CareFlight pioneered the approach, ‘flying the hospital to the patient’, focused on rushing critical care treatment to patients for initial stabilisation before transporting them to hospital,” Mr Hoad said.
“Over the past four decades, it’s been incredible to see our original vision not only continue to save lives but be built on to expand the reach of CareFlight and the number of Australians impacted.”
CareFlight now operates helicopters, turbo-prop aeroplanes, jet aircraft and road vehicles. Its teams include doctors, nurses, pilots, aircrew officers, engineers and logistics staff.
Supporting regional patients
The northern NSW Patient Transport Service uses fixed-wing aircraft and road vehicles to transfer patients between regional communities and specialist hospitals.
CareFlight has reported that more than 6000 patients used the wider northern NSW service between 2018 and 2023. That figure covers the broader network rather than Moree alone.
CareFlight medical director Toby Fogg said the organisation aimed to provide hospital-level care to patients as soon as possible, regardless of their location.
“Over the past 40 years, CareFlight has been reaching patients, often on what has become the worst day of their lives,” Dr Fogg said.
“We help nearly 10,000 Australians every year, ensuring they have access to the very best level of healthcare, giving them the greatest chance of recovery.
“Our dedicated crews embody our core mission and continue to innovate and save lives every day. From pioneering helicopter emergency medical services to embracing advances in aviation and clinical care, we’ve continued to evolve to meet the growing needs of patients and communities.”
CareFlight also provides education and emergency-response training in regional, rural and remote communities.
Continuing to support regional communities
CareFlight chief executive officer-elect Peter Broschofsky said the organisation’s work was supported by its staff, partners and the communities it served.
“Our success is built on the commitment of our people, the support of our partners and the trust that communities place in us every day,” Mr Broschofsky said.
“Together, we have helped save countless lives and provided critical care when time matters most.”
CareFlight said improving equity in access to healthcare would remain central to its work as the organisation looked towards its next 40 years.
