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LifeFlight has hired 33 new critical care doctors to work across urban and regional aeromedical services in Queensland.
The new doctors, who will be deployed to the Darling Downs, Sunshine Coast, Wide-Bay Burnett, Maranoa, North Queensland and Brisbane regions, have undergone “a week of intensive aeromedical training” at Brisbane Airport’s LifeFlight Training Academy.
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“Our mission is to have the doctors skilled with the confidence to be able to deal with any aviation situation that they may be faced with,” said LifeFlight Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET) manager Mick Dowling.
“The common response we get from them after the completion is that it was challenging and uncomfortable, but overall, an amazing experience.
“It’s highly unlikely the aircraft will be required to be ditched into the water, however all crew are trained should they face that situation.”
Along with HUET, the doctors underwent realistic simulated scenarios including road accidents, as well as “multiple exercises” in winch training, according to LifeFlight deputy chief aircrew officer Todd Seymour.
“They learn how to be winched out of the aircraft by themselves, how to be winched out of the aircraft with a rescue crewman or paramedic and learn how to accompany a stretcher into the aircraft,” he said.
“They’re going to remote areas across Queensland and they could be in dense bushland or out to sea off a cruise ship, so it’s important they’re delivered the training they need to perform these roles to a high and safe standard. No two days are the same for us at LifeFlight.”
LifeFlight is Australia’s largest employer of aeromedical doctors, and now has more than 180 medical professionals including doctors, nurses, and paramedics on its payroll.
The aeromedical provider, which recently invested in new AW139 rescue helicopters, said it assisted 8,838 people in 2025 – up 4.2 per cent on 2024 – translating to one every 59 minutes. Its helicopter crews completed 3,857 missions, while its jet crews helped 1,014 people.
“The majority of LifeFlight critical care doctors’ work is performed on behalf of Queensland Health, tasked by Retrieval Services Queensland, within Queensland Ambulance Service,” the organisation said in a press release.
LifeFlight will be part of Brisbane Airport’s medical precinct, set to be completed by late 2026.
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