July 30, 2012
A proposed collaboration between the AGL Action Rescue Helicopter and CareFlight NSW has the potential to improve patient outcomes, increase safety and training for crews, and enhance the delivery of regionally-based helicopter services, according to a spokesman for the Queensland-based service.
Staff at the AGL choppers’ Maroochydore and Bundaberg bases were told this afternoon that the two services “desire to forge ahead with a national framework for community based rescue helicopters”.
They were also assured their jobs are safe.
“The AGL Action Rescue Helicopter and CareFlight NSW share a vision for a new national entity to consolidate Community Helicopter Providers (CHP) under a single model. It’s something we hope can involve other CHPs as it evolves,” AGL Action Rescue Helicopter CEO David Donaldson said.
Currently 11 CHPs operate Australia wide, providing life-saving services from 15 bases.
“We believe a national framework would allow us to consolidate our depth of experience and capabilities,” Mr Donaldson said.
“It’s about looking within the industry at the way we do things and out of that developing a national best-practice. This could apply to everything from night landings and rescues to training and maintenance, ultimately improving safety for our crews and patients.
“At this stage we’ve agreed simply to explore the possibilities with CareFlight NSW but it’s anticipated the collaboration could include staff exchanges, shared resources and joint ventures.
“We have also agreed on the importance of retaining our local identity within the community. All CHPs operate as not-for-profit organisations and will continue to rely on sponsorships and community donations to meet funding shortfalls.
“As it is we operate on the slimmest margin, with 90 per cent of our budget spent on operational costs just to keep our helicopters in the air. This is about strengthening our operation, not about cutbacks.”
Chief Pilot Brent Chamberlain said the announcement came as a surprise but the collaboration was an exciting step forward.
“I think it’s a positive move for the organisation. Everyone seems to have taken the news pretty well. We’re all cautiously optimistic. Something like this has been talked about for years, not just at AGL Action Rescue but widely within the industry, so to see something finally happening and to be a part of that is pretty exciting,” Mr Chamberlain said.
Note: CareFlight NSW is an independent company, entirely separate from CareFlight Qld.
