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Working for the RFDS

A variety of professional groups are employed by the RFDS, including doctors, nurses, managers, pilots and engineers. A limited range of allied health professionals including a psychologist and a dentist are employed at individual Bases across Australia.

For employment information relevant to an individual Section contact that Section directly.

As a matter of policy, the RFDS only recruits people that hold qualifications, cerificates or licences that are recognised by the relevant Australian authority.

A general guide to the skills and experience required to work for the RFDS in the different professional groups are as follows:

MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS

RFDS medical officers work as part of a multi disciplinary health team, providing emergency and primary health care to the rural population. The general skills and experience required are:

• Medical degree registerable in Australia.
• Sound knowledge of resuscitation techniques.
• Good basic grounding in obstetrics, paediatrics, general medicine, emergency and trauma, surgery and anaesthesia.
• An interest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
• Excellent communication skills.
• A philosophy sympathetic to the ideals of the RFDS.
• An empathy for the bush and its people.

NURSES

The nurses throughout the RFDS have differing roles from Base to Base. These roles range from providing emergency care, early childhood services, health screening and promotion, primary health care, and mental health services. The general skills and experience required are as follows, however the these may vary depending on the individual role at a Base:

• Registered as a General Nurse and Midwife in appropriate State(s) of Australia.
• Significant relevant post graduate experience including critical care.
• Competence in procedural skills including:
  • Advanced life support
  • Emergency management of trauma
  • IV insertion
  • Interpretation of ECG and Defibrillation
• An interest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
• Excellent communication skills.
• A philosophy sympathetic to the ideals of the RFDS.
• An empathy for the bush and its people.

PILOTS

The large RFDS fleet is comprised of Beechcraft Kingairs, Pilatus PC XII and Titian C404. Positions are generally advertised in national newpapers, and competition for the limited number of opportunities is strong. The general skills and experience required are as follows:

• Australian commercial pilots licence.
• Current command instrument rating (multi-engine) with two renewals.
• 2000 hours as pilot-in-command.
• 1000 hours as pilot-in-command of a multi-engined aircraft.
• 200 hours night operations as pilot-in-command.
• Pilots with turbo-prop experience preferred.
• A sound work ethic.
• Demonstatable maturity and stability of employment.
• Excellent communication skills.
• A philosophy sympathetic to the ideals of the RFDS.
• An empathy for the bush and its people.

MEDICAL and NURSING STUDENTS

The availability of medical student placements varies from Base to Base. Placements (where offered) are for Australian students and because numbers are restricted a waiting list may exist and preference may be given to local under graduates with an interest in rural and remote health.

Each individual Section should be contacted to investigate the opportunities available for medical student placements and recruitment.