Search & Rescue in the Outback

Helicopter Life continues its look at the variety of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services taking place around the world.

Lying approximately mid-way up the East coast of Australia Mackay appears to be a relatively quiet Queensland town with it’s own small airport being home to the Central Queensland Rescue Service (CQ RESCUE) helicopter. Helicopter EMS services along the East coast are a mix of fully Government funded operations and community helicopter providers. CQ RESCUE comes under the banner of community providers with approximately half of the AU$3.2 million per annum operating costs funded by the Australian Government and the remainder sourced through sponsorships, business donations and community support. RACQ, a national car breakdown service, has a major sponsorship deal with all the EMS providers along the East coast due to the Pacific Highway, running over 1000km from Brisbane to Cairns, where a lot of accidents are the result of drivers trying to drive long distances without a break. There is also a large mining industry just west of Mackay and the mining companies and unions provide sponsorship towards the EMS service.

All emergency calls for the east coast are directed through two call centres: Townsville for the north of Queensland and 150km south Brisbane covering the southern region, with the divide just below Mackay....