How CareFlight NT is helping communities soar to new heights
Altitude and attitude is delivering vital health education to some of the Top End’s most isolated areas. Find out how.
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Altitude and attitude is delivering vital health education to some of the Top End’s most isolated areas, equipping them with the skills and confidence to cope with a variety of emergency situations.
With yet another busy year clocked up last year, CareFlight NT is looking forward to more of the same in 2025.
The Territory’s leading aeromedical organisation will deliver vital health education to some of the Top End’s most isolated areas.
In 2024 it delivered more than 38 training courses in 18 locations, equipping more than 350 participants with critical skills to handle medical emergencies before professional help can arrive.
Communities say the health education means everything to them.
One such important milestone was the introduction of CareFlight’s new Infant Care Workshop, a program designed to empower parents and carers to address common infant health concerns and emergencies.
The infant program was delivered through 10 workshops across the Top End and attracted more than its anticipated intake.
CareFlight’s Sick and Injured Kids in the Bush workshop also returned for another year and continued to deliver critical pediatric emergency care training to healthcare professions and community members.
The program, which was delivered in 11 sessions throughout the year, aimed to provide participants with the skills to manage children’s health, particularly in remote areas.
A spokesman for the Gunbalanya Health Centre said programs such as the Sick and Injured Kids in the Bush program provided locals with the “skills and confidence” to respond to emergencies when it mattered most.
“We’re so grateful to the CareFlight team for bringing their education and training to Gunbalanya”, the spokesman said.
“For our remote staff and community, travelling to Darwin or interstate for training isn’t an option, so having CareFlight come to us means everything.”
CareFlight’s flagship Remote Trauma Course — a unique community-based program that uses storytelling to help participants manage trauma situations — was another success in 2024, with hundreds of first responders participating in 18 of the training sessions.
CareFlight Nurse and Community Educator Dean Blackney said these programs were critical, especially in remote areas far from help.
“These programs are not just about teaching skills; they’re about empowering people to take control of emergencies and feel confident they can make a difference,” he said.
“The community-led approach ensures these programs resonate and create lasting impact.
“We are incredibly grateful to the communities that welcome us, the local organisations that help co-ordinate these workshops, and the participants committed to making their regions safer.
“By working hand-in-hand with communities, we’re creating safer environments and ensuring lifesaving medical interventions reach those in need.”
To bring CareFlight’s lifesaving training to your community, contact its education team at education@careflight.org
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Originally published as How CareFlight NT is helping communities soar to new heights
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