RFDS flies in to get stranded Territory station kids back to boarding schools

NINE Territory kids touched down in Adelaide this week to resume their studies at boarding schools, thanks to the Royal Flying Doctor Service, after remote station families were left without any commercial flight options for getting their children back to school.

Territory kids touch down in rainy Adelaide to get back to their Term 2 studies amid the coronavirus pandemic. Picture: RFDS

NINE Territory kids touched down in Adelaide this week to resume their school studies, thanks to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

The aircraft departed Darwin with five kids from the Top End, who were then joined by four from Central Australia after the plane touched down in Alice Springs for a pit stop.

The flight, facilitated with the help of the NT Cattlemen’s Association, was scheduled after the RFDS was contacted by remote station families to assist with a unique travel arrangement after all possible commercial interstate options had been exhausted.

NTCA chief executive Ashley Manicaros was grateful to the RFDS for being able to facilitate the service when parents needed to get their children back to school.

“We’re grateful when parents needed a competitive air charter to get their children back to school that RFDS was able to expand their service to include young Territorians,” he said.

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The families and schools are undertaking their own respective health compliance plan with the relevant state authorities to ensure adherence to the 14-day isolation.

RFDS was compensated for the operational costs of the ferry flight, which was undertaken in a standard aircraft not equipped with medical equipment.

RFDS executive general manager in marketing and stakeholder relations Charlie Paterson said the RFDS was committed to serving those in a crisis, especially in such unprecedented times.

“The RFDS exists to support healthier and happier communities, even in the most challenging of times,” he said.

“The RFDS has been preparing for the entry of COVID-19 to Australia since January, which has involved building our 24/7 aeromedical capability and surge capacity in the unfortunate event of an outbreak in a remote community.

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“We have also maintained our non-aeromedical aircraft used for delivery to health clinics, which have become invaluable for the movement of medical specialists from Adelaide to the Territory to ensure vital health services are maintained.

“We’re happy to be able to assist with the movement of these Territory students back to school, which is incredibly vital as part of their transition back to normality.”