RFDS on the Road

The ‘RFDS on the Road’ Primary Health Care Partnership Program aims to equip people living and working in remote locations with the knowledge and skills to confidently cope with medical emergencies and health issues until they are able to access appropriate professional health care services.

Launched in the Pilbara region in September 2004, the ‘RFDS on the Road’ Program provides a unique health service to people living and working on isolated pastoral stations, roadhouses, schools, mining and exploration camps, tourist facilities and Indigenous communities – who are outside the reach of mainstream health care services.  The Program is currently delivered across the 510,000 square kilometers of the Pilbara region in Western Australia.

The ‘RFDS on the Road' program is generously supported by principal project partners BHP Billiton and BHP Billiton Iron Ore, with support from the Pilbara Development Commission.

A nurse and project officer provide important health promotion, screening  and training activities from the ‘RFDS on the Road’ mobile unit - a 4WD Mitsubishi Canter dual cab truck fitted with a custom built body – sponsored by the Pilbara Fund, Skipper Trucks, AHG and Mitsubishi Australia.

A particular focus of the Program is training RFDS medical chest custodians on how to manage the chests and advise private airstrip owners of the necessary standards required to enable an RFDS aircraft to make emergency day and night landings.

Since its inception, the ‘RFDS on the Road’ Program has involved more than 4,000 people in first aid training, medical chest management, education and interactive activities promoting healthier lifestyles, at more than 110 Pilbara locations. 

RFDS Western Operations is now seeking corporate partners interested in supporting the extension of this valuable health service into the Goldfields / Esperance, Kimberley, and Gascoyne / Murchison regions of the State.

Last Updated: 28/08/2007