Health Promotion
The RFDS Health Promotion Program aims to increase the integration of health promotion and illness prevention activities into RFDS primary health care services.
Health promotion includes:
- developing strategic frameworks for the continued implementation of health promotion activities within RFDS
- facilitating the development management and evaluation for comprehensive health promotion programs
- strengthening partnerships and networks with other agencies involved in the delivery of the health promotion program.
A most important development has been the holding of health promotion field days at rural and remote locations. One example are the field days held regularly throughout Queensland from the Cairns and Charleville Bases which have a focus on building skills to help people better manage health issues encountered in the remote context.
The incorporation of health promotion activities into RFDS service delivery not only broadens the role of all health staff but also provides a more comprehensive health services to its users.
.jpg)
Children learning about health issues
RFDS on the Road
The ‘RFDS on the Road’ Primary Health Care Partnership Program (RFDS Western Operations) aims to equip people living and working in remote locations with the knowledge and skills to confidently cope with medical emergencies and health issues until they are able to access appropriate professional health care services.
Launched in the Pilbara region in September 2004, the ‘RFDS on the Road’ Program provides a unique health service to people living and working on isolated pastoral stations, roadhouses, schools, mining and exploration camps, tourist facilities and Indigenous communities – who are outside the reach of mainstream health care services. The Program is currently delivered across the 510,000 square kilometers of the Pilbara region in Western Australia.
Rural Emergency Skills Program
The Royal Flying Doctor Service with a team of Emergency Medicine Consultants will develop and deliver the Rural Emergency Skills Program (RESP) to resident GPs and other health professionals in rural and remote South Australia over the next three years.
The project aims to provide rural and remote GPs and health professionals opportunities to enhance existing knowledge and skills in the management of emergency presentations.
The course, held over two days has been accredited with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine and the Royal Australian College of General Practice. The program is funded by the SA Department of Health and the Rural Doctors Workforce Agency.
Dr. John Setchell (General Manager, Health Services) describes the program as "an excellent opportunity for RFDS to be involved in supporting rural and remote doctors to maintain their clinical emergency skills, thereby assistig them in this critical role they provide for their communities".