Opening of the AeroMed Flight Nurses 2022 Conference

Flight Nurses Australia, President, Ms Colleen Reid; Aeromedical Society of Australasia, President, Ms Dianne Fuller; Master of Ceremonies, Mr Greg Ward; today’s opening keynote speaker – Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) Rescue Co-Pilot for LifeFlight, Captain Natalie Davies-White; aeromedical retrieval personnel; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you, Ashley Ruska, from the Nunukul Yuggera Aboriginal Dance Company, for your Welcome to Country. I would also like to acknowledge the original custodians of the lands on which we gather and pay respects to Elders past, present and emerging. I extend that respect to any First Nations people here today.

It is a great privilege to be with you all this morning at this year’s Aeromedical Society of Australasia and Flight Nurses Australia Conference. The first since 2019!

I am so glad you can all be here to gather again; each of you, experts in your own unique fields within the aeromedical industry.

Welcome to Queensland! I thank you for coming from right across Australia, and for some, even further afield across international borders, but all with a passion to save lives and deliver critical care to those in need.

Through my previous role as Queensland’s Chief Health Officer, I was always captivated by the niche and specialised skills of those working in aeromedicine; and now, as Governor of Queensland, I am thrilled to continue to witness and support the extremely valuable, and lifesaving work being done by you, and your remarkable organisations.

From the doctors, nurses and paramedics, to the pilots and rescue officers, and to those working behind the scenes such as the engineers and dispatch coordinators; you all work seamlessly together. Each with an important role to play.

I am under no illusions that any role within aeromedicine is simple; these roles are complicated and draining, and I thank you for your dedication to the industry.

Whether you are flying to hard-to-access locations in rural and remote areas, or needing to quickly quantify the possible health needs of a critically ill patient, I know that each mission is different to the next, with distinct complexities and factors. Such, is the appropriateness of this year’s theme - ‘Critical Care in the Air – Critical Care Anywhere’

I thank each and every one of you for your commitment to aeromedicine, and the sacrifices you have made in your lives to work in the air.

Sharing your knowledge and experiences with each other over the coming days is imperative to the future success of the aeromedical retrieval industry.

In learning from each other, you will take on new ideas and ways of thinking to ensure you are all delivering the very best critical care in the air.

I am delighted to now officially declare the 2022 Aeromedical Society of Australasia and Flight Nurses Australia Conference open, and wish you all an informative, inspiring few days, as you share your experiences and expertise. Thank you.