MAA grants CareFlight a new home

Ian Badham
24th June 2009, 12:00am

A $2.2 million State Government grant has delivered CareFlight a new headquarters to co-ordinate its national network of medical, rescue helicopter and air ambulance services.

Premier Nathan Rees visited the charity’s helicopter base at Westmead, in Sydney’s west, to announce the grant and get a preview of the building today.

The grant was funded by the Motor Accidents Authority, in addition to the financial contribution it provides annually to support CareFlight’s rapid response critical care trial which flies trauma physicians to injured children and adults.

Mr Rees said CareFlight had served the community since 1986 and had an important role in saving and transporting seriously injured people, especially those in road crashes.

“CareFlight already provides a remarkable service and these funds will allow them to focus on the important job of saving lives,” Mr Rees said.

“This grant provides a new facility that allows staff and volunteers to professionally run a vital service without the noise and disruption of helicopters landing and taking off on their doorstop.

“It will improve operations and the safety of staff while allowing for CareFlight’s future growth.”

Inspecting the new building, Mr Rees told CareFlight supporters and staff it would serve for the next 50 years as the charity develops its services which already extend beyond NSW with the operation of two rescue helicopters in northern Australia in addition to jet air ambulances with its doctors and nurses at bases in Sydney, Perth, Darwin and Cairns.

CareFlight chairman Dr Andrew Refshauge said the support of the NSW Government, through the partnership with the Motor Accidents Authority, was deeply appreciated.

“Having a new headquarters building, very close to our helicopter operations base located in the grounds of Westmead Hospital, will improve the efficiency of the service which CareFlight is proud to deliver to the community,” Dr Refshauge said.

For further information please contact NRMA CareFlight director Ian Badham on 0418 245 748.

‘The next life we save could be yours’