Asia-Pacific’s International Mining Exhibition has named the Royal Flying Doctor Service SA/NT as its official charity partner for 2025.
For over 90 years, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has provided leading health care and 24-hour emergency and retrieval services to those in rural Australia.
Known as one of the largest aeromedical organisations, the RFDS delivers healthcare when and where mainstream services aren’t available by using the latest in aviation, medical and communications technology, and a broad-reaching ground-service fleet.
The RFDS has held a significant presence within the Australian mining industry for decades, with the organisation servicing the remote areas that several mine sites call home.
It’s for this reason and many more that Asia-Pacific’s International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX) has welcomed the RFDS as its charity partner for 2025.
With AIMEX set to call South Australia home for the next 10 years, the RFDS’ South Australia/Northern Territory section was seen as the perfect choice.
“We wanted to showcase an Australian charity at this year’s AIMEX,” Prime Creative Media marketing manager – mining events Rebecca Todesco told Australian Mining.
“The RFDS is a well-known and respected institution that has been trusted across Australia for decades, and has made an impact across the mining sector and its rural sites.
“We want to showcase the great work the RFDS has done and continues to do across Australia.”
Image: Royal Flying Doctor Service SA/NT
In SA and the NT, the RFDS supports and assists more than 56,000 patients annually. According to the organisation, that equates to one patient every 10 minutes.
This impressive reach is made possible by the RFDS’ four aeromedical bases in Adelaide, Alice Springs, Darwin and Port Augusta, as well as its three remote primary healthcare facilities in Andamooka, Marla and Marree in outback SA.
“We provide support to the industry in two main ways,” RFDS SA/NT executive general manager – strategy, brand and reputation Charlie Paterson told Australian Mining.
“First, we provide an on-call emergency aeromedical response to mining employees in the field when they need it the most. Secondly, we deliver whole-of-life care to the communities that directly and indirectly support mining operations.
“In South Australia, where AIMEX will be held this year, these include communities like Roxby Downs, Innamincka and Andamooka.”
Over the years, the RFDS has received direct funding from several mining companies, as well as government support and donations from local communities.
“In regions where mines operate, many workers are often active participants in their community and they assist as a first responder either directly or through voluntary state emergency service roles,” Paterson said.
“The first responder role is often overlooked but essential for the wellbeing and resilience of these communities.
“As our work in digital healthcare expands, so too does our collaborative work with the mining sector as we trial new technologies and explore innovative pathways for the finest patient care.”
The RFDS sees AIMEX as an opportunity to showcase its premier services to the larger Asia-Pacific region.
The organisation will be exhibiting a simulator at the event that showcases a mock-up of one of their planes. Staff members of the RFDS SA/NT section will also be available to answer questions from attendees.
“We are delighted to partner with the inaugural AIMEX conference in South Australia and look forward to meeting with attendees at our exhibition stand where there will be an opportunity to step into the RFDS simulator to see what it’s like inside one of our aeromedical aircraft,” Paterson said.
Todesco said she is excited to showcase the RFDS’ passion for providing critical assistance such as emergency aeromedical services, outback community health services, inter-hospital patient transfers, remote oral healthcare, mental health and wellbeing services, and education and training.
“We are keen to further connect the RFDS with the Australian mining industry and the larger Asia-Pacific, and to support a charity that helps those working in remote areas,” she said.
AIMEX 2025 will take place at the Adelaide Showgrounds from September 23–25.
This feature appeared in the March 2025 issue of Australian Mining.
