Latest news with #RFDS
Techday NZ
04-08-2025
- Climate
- Techday NZ
Revolutionary SuperPac aircraft debuts in Australia tour & race
A new humanitarian aircraft will be seen for the first time in Australian airspace as it tours the country ahead of the Outback Air Race in support of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS). Aircraft tour The SuperPac 750XL-II, produced by NZAero, is the world's first commercial Extremely Short Take-Off and Landing (XSTOL) aircraft. The aircraft requires only 200 metres for take-off and is capable of landing on steep, rugged or unsealed terrain. Already in use by the United Nations and humanitarian agencies across 28 countries, its Australian debut coincides with its participation in the 2025 Outback Air Race. The aircraft will be showcased in 22 public stopovers across Queensland, northern New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, Canberra and Sydney during August and September. Notable stops include Port Macquarie, Toowoomba, Rockhampton, Cairns, Mt Isa, Yulara, Alice Springs, Katherine, Broome, Carnarvon, Perth, Albany, Adelaide, Melbourne, Hobart, Canberra, Sydney, and Newcastle. Humanitarian capability The SuperPac 750XL-II was developed over seven years and is described as a next-generation, more powerful and fuel-efficient update of the 750XL. Its design enables take-off from and landing on semi-prepared strips, hillsides and other challenging terrains, making it suitable for post-disaster evacuations and humanitarian supply runs. Stephen Burrows, Chief Executive Officer of NZAero, explained how the aircraft addresses challenges posed by climate change and remote access. "We know that the effect of climate change is accelerating across the world and it is now more devastating to human health, economies and the environment than ever before. Increasingly, the fight against its impact is being fought by nations around the world from the skies. For geographical areas which are heavily impacted by drought, natural disaster or are geographically isolated, this utility aircraft can lift more than its own weight, bringing hundreds of kilograms of supplies to remote regions and leaving with a cargo hold full of perishable produce, providing a critical economic lifeline. The smaller aircraft requires less training to fly and less time to refuel and take on more retardant. It can also climb to altitude significantly faster and requires a landing strip that is a fraction of the length of large planes. The humanitarian aid agencies we work with across the globe tell us our aircraft saves lives every day it is operating," he says. Burrows added that modular accessories allow the aircraft to be converted quickly for roles such as dispersing fire retardant during wildfires, cloud seeding via rainmaking silver iodide particles over drought-affected regions, or agricultural applications such as topdressing. The SuperPac is already operational in the Pacific Islands, supporting medical evacuation, humanitarian aid, disaster response, border patrol and maritime surveillance. It also operates as part of the United Nations World Food Programme in Africa. Race and tour details The 2025 Outback Air Race, a 3,800km aerial time trial supporting the RFDS, will feature over 40 participating aircraft. Since its inception, the event has raised more than AUD $4 million for the Flying Doctor, which provides aeromedical retrieval services for rural and remote communities. The race will begin in Yulara, Northern Territory, and end in Carnarvon, Western Australia. The event is judged on navigation precision and timing rather than speed and covers 10 scheduled stopovers over 15 days. Participants and crews are drawn from across Australia and New Zealand. The SuperPac will complete a pre-race tour from 7 to 21 August, making stops throughout eastern Queensland and northern New South Wales. A further post-race tour will begin in Perth, travelling through South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, Canberra, Sydney and Newcastle. Communities, aero clubs, and aviation schools along the planned route are encouraged to reach out for visits or demonstrations. The tour is intended to raise awareness of the RFDS's work and to introduce the SuperPac to Australian aviation enthusiasts. Aviation applications Dee Bond, NZAero Director and pilot for the Outback Air Race, said the event will be the first occasion the SuperPac is seen in Australia's airspace. "We're excited to meet fellow pilots, engineers and aviation enthusiasts across Australia and to introduce them to a uniquely capable aircraft. This tour is more than a showcase – it's a celebration of how aviation can change lives, especially in remote and challenging environments," she says. Bond emphasised the SuperPac's suitability for medivac service operations. "Whether it's evacuating a patient from a remote cattle station or delivering urgent supplies after a cyclone, this aircraft was built for exactly those kinds of missions. It can operate on short, unsealed airstrips or roads and carry significant payloads, making it a practical tool for medivac, disaster relief and humanitarian response. It also allows us to demonstrate how advanced aviation engineering is solving real-world problems. This aircraft's modular design means it can be reconfigured within minutes for tasks like freight, surveillance or passenger transport. We're proud to support the Royal Flying Doctor Service by participating in this year's race, and we hope the tour inspires more people to understand what's possible when innovation is driven by purpose," she says. NZAero states that the aircraft can be used for numerous additional applications, including surveying, pollution monitoring, passenger and cargo transport to remote sites, aerial photography, and geophysical surveying, such as detecting variations in the Earth's magnetic field and measuring greenhouse gas concentrations. According to Burrows: "The predecessors to the SuperPac have also formed a critical part of the agricultural sector for the past five decades, spreading fertiliser and pesticides. With climate change set to dramatically increase the intensity of locust swarms this technology is also playing a role in protecting crops around the world. The planes can now be equipped with Lidar, which scientists are using to map in 3D to help with flood modelling, measuring post-climatic event land movements, as well as identifying the optimal location for forestry tracks, rail and the power industry. This equipment is also used by researchers in other nations to detect the remains of ancient civilisations", he says. Aero clubs and communities along the tour route are invited to view the aircraft and engage with the NZAero team during public stopovers.
The Australian
29-07-2025
- Business
- The Australian
EMVision to start two key studies
EMVision receives ethics approval for two studies that will advance prototype First Responder toward commercial production Studies designed to demonstrate First Responder brain scanner can fit into emergency workflows and collect valuable data in pre-hospital setting EMVision non-dilutive milestone payment received under Australian Stroke Alliance Project Agreement Special Report: EMVision Medical Devices has passed a major milestone with ethics approval granted for two key studies to advance its First Responder prototype portable device to detect stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI). EMVision Medical Devices (ASX:EMV) said the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) pre-hospital aeromedical study and Melbourne Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) study would advance its First Responder brain scanner toward commercial production. The studies are designed to demonstrate that the First Responder device can fit seamlessly into emergency workflows and collect valuable data in the pre-hospital setting. First Responder is EMVision's second device and designed to address significant unmet needs in stroke and TBI care by enabling earlier triage, transfer or treatment decisions at the scene. The device is being advanced in parallel with its emu bedside scanner to rapidly diagnose stroke at the point-of-care, which is currently in a pivotal trial to support US Food and Drug (FDA) de novo (new device) clearance. RFDS pre-hospital aeromedical study Ethics approval has been granted for a feasibility, usability and workflow implementation aeromedical study. The study is a collaboration of RFDS, South Australia Ambulance Service's emergency retrieval service MedStar, South Australia Health's Rural Support Services, the Royal Adelaide Hospital and the Australian Stroke Alliance. The study will evaluate the First Responder device's usability, reliability, functionality, workflow metrics and other tests as necessary to meet user and international regulatory requirements. EMVision said the study was on track to start recruitment this quarter, with study results expected to be reported next quarter. Melbourne Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) Ethics approval has also been granted for a First Responder study during acute suspected stroke cases attended by the Melbourne Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU). EMVision said the study provided a unique opportunity to collaborate with the only MSUs in Australia and one of a few MSUs globally who participate in clinical research. The study aims to evaluate the use of First Responder during pre-hospital emergency response to acute suspected stroke patients, while gathering contemporaneous ground-truth MSU CT-scan data. This study is forecast to start later this quarter. Milestone payment of $400,000 from ASA In a further boost EMVision has reached a key development milestone under its project agreement with the Australian Stroke Alliance (ASA), supported by the Federal Government's Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). The company has received a $400,000 non-dilutive payment for completing the Telemedicine and Road/Air Integration milestone, an achievement that advances its First Responder portable brain scanner program. EMVision's CEO Scott Kirkland said the company was delighted to report successful achievement of the important milestone, which brings together the power of its point-of-care neurodiagnostic capabilities with the reach of telehealth. 'This combination has the potential to transform patient workflows and outcomes, particularly in the pre-hospital setting,' he said. 'In the coming months, EMVision will be conducting several studies to progress development of its First Responder device, which will be integral to expediating its commercialisation via the FDA 510(k) regulatory pathway. 'We look forward to communicating the results of these studies to the market in due course.' First responder pathway to market entry Source:EMVision This article was developed in collaboration with EMVIsion, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
ABC News
26-07-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Mother-and-son duo, Mitchell and Kym Purcell, take to the skies for Outback Air Race
Sitting in the pilot seat of his late father's shiny aeroplane, Mitchell Purcell is about to take off on an epic cross-country flight. His dad, Terry, a businessman and proud grandfather, was just 53 when he died of cancer. He had lived life to the full: riding motorbikes, travelling the world, and buying a 1980s Cessna aeroplane — the "workhorse of the sky". "I first got my dad involved in flying with a Father's Day gift of a one-hour introductory flight, which he enjoyed and loved, and he ended up getting his pilot's licence," the 34-year-old said. In the cockpit next to Mr Purcell is his mother, Kym. The Purcells, from Gladstone in central Queensland, have entered the 3,881-kilometre Outback Air Race in honour of the late Mr Purcell, who competed in 2018. They are among more than 40 planes taking to the skies for the 18-day flying challenge to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS). Beginning in Yulara, in the Northern Territory, and ending in Carnarvon, in Western Australia, with pit stops in several small towns in between, competitors will cover more than 2,000 nautical miles. The triennial event raised more than $750,000 when it was last held in 2022. Ms Purcell first took part in the competition in 2018 with her husband. "When we went down past WA … to see the coastline is spectacular from a smaller aircraft because you obviously can't get as high as the big planes … and the views are magnificent." At the Gladstone hangar, she held back tears as she remembered her beloved husband and explained the pride she had for her son. "It's nice to spend that quality time … doing this together is really, really enjoyable." Under the team's name "210 Fast & Furious", the Purcells will fly together in Terry's Cessna 210, a six-seater single-engine plane that was built in the 1980s and has undergone a series of upgrades, including to the propeller and fuel tank. "I can definitely see why Dad chose the Cessna … 'the workhorse of the sky' people call it," Mr Purcell said. "There are newer planes you can buy that are very similar to the dimensions … but they can't carry as much." Mr Purcell uses the plane to travel with his young family and for work, transporting workers and equipment across central Queensland. He is the managing director of an engineering business in Gladstone, which, among its work, services mines in the region. Outback Air Race manager Stuart Payne said the two-week event was run by volunteers and took years of planning. He first flew in a race in 2006 and was hooked. Mr Payne said, in the bush, the RFDS was life-changing for people who would otherwise not be able to access routine or emergency health care. "We're very happy to be supporting the charity, but also as pilots and people in the aviation community, we get to tick the box of being able to indulge our passion to go flying," he said. "We have a very, very high demand for the event; it sells out very quickly." Mr Payne said the race was set up as a timed navigating trial, where pilots are challenged by having to locate and fly over particular points, such as the corner of a paddock or a tower. "A lot of the legs are decided on the basis of a second or two of timing accuracy and typically less than 50 metres positional accuracy, so it's very competitive." Mr Payne said, after the event, money was distributed to different RFDS divisions around the country, so participants could give back to their own region. Mr Purcell said he wanted to fundraise for the RFDS as it was an important cause in Gladstone because many people in the community, including his own family, have used the service.
West Australian
23-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
WA Budget 2025-26: Key regional spending revealed, with major investments across the Mid West
The State Government admitted its first post-election Budget was not sexy but delivered the essentials, with millions in extra funding set to be put into a range of regional infrastructure projects. But while the majority of Mid West election funding promises were kept, notably Labor's pledge to fund a Royal Flying Doctor Service base in Geraldton did not crack a mention this time around. In the lead-up to the election, the Cook Government committed $7.5 million towards establishing the long-awaited RFDS facility in the Mid West, but the funding was nowhere to be seen in this year's Budget — prompting frustration from Member for Geraldton Kirrilee Warr who said the service is critical for timely emergency care in the region's remote areas. 'I'm disappointed there appears to be no funding towards an RFDS base here in Geraldton in the State Budget,' Ms Warr said. 'Nearly 2000 patients were retrieved by the service in the Mid West over the past year — more than five people per day. 'I will continue to back important projects across the electorate and will hold this State Government to account to ensure it delivers the funding they promised at the election.' Minister for the Mid West Jackie Jarvis said she had spoken to the RFDS chief executive and said all election promises would eventually be delivered in Geraldton. 'We're working with them again to understand their timelines and to make sure that they have fully costed the project,' she said. 'It has been 105 days since the State election, that election commitment, all election commitments made in Geraldton, will be honoured as part of our four-year term.' But the Mid West did come out a winner with an additional $500m committed to the State's Strategic Industries Fund — supporting key priorities under the Made in WA plan, including fast-tracking of clean energy and major industrial projects — with the Oakajee precinct set to share in the funding. Oakajee remains part of the State Government's plan to create a renewable energy hub in the Mid West with $60m invested in the project so far. So who were the other Budget winners in the Mid West this time around? Here's the Guardian's five-minute guide to what was in it for our region. Business and development: Geraldton's port will benefit from $3.5m for detailed design of Berths 8 and 9, 'supporting future renewable energy exports like wind turbine components'. Meanwhile, $8.9m has been set aside to boost the Exploration Incentive Scheme to drive regional mining jobs. Other investments include $20m to expand the Aboriginal Ranger Program and $8.3m to progress plans to return WA's freight rail network to public ownership. Cost of living support: A second round of the WA Student Assistance Payment will allow households to apply for a $150 payment for each primary aged child or $250 payment for each secondary aged child. This comes as the first round is due to close on July 4. Eligible concession card holders will receive a one-off rebate on their water bills and $25.7m has been pledged to increase the Regional Pensioner Travel Cards by a further $100, to $775. TransWA fares will be halved, including fares for bus services connecting towns in the Mid West in an $18m promise. The reductions will begin from January 1. The Country Week Assistance Program has been given $8m to support regional participant in country week events. Housing: The Mid West is set to benefit from a major injection of funding aimed at tackling housing shortages and supporting essential workers across the region. As part of a $1.1 billion Statewide investment, $400m has been committed to building and upgrading public housing in regional areas, including Geraldton and surrounding towns. The Government will double its Government Regional Officer Housing construction program with $103.8m to build more than 100 homes and acquire land for key workers such as police and teachers. A further $25m will go into the new Regional Housing Support Fund, offering grants up to $5m to unlock housing and land supply — including subdivisions and key worker accommodation. To improve home ownership access, Keystart will also introduce a new low-deposit loan product to help more Mid West residents purchase modular homes. Health: Planning for an expansion of renal services and a radiation oncology service can begin, with $1m apiece put aside for that purpose within this year's Budget. While in Kalbarri a further $1m will go towards upgrading the health centre's air-conditioning system, improving comfort and safety for patients and staff. The Budget also includes $8.2m to attract and retain health workers in regional areas, with the Government touting that families will also benefit from a $12.2m investment in the Virtual Infant Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Hub for children which will provide specialist care for children and young people via telehealth. Those who need to rely on the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme will see the benefit of a $18.5m to allow the fuel subsidy to be increased from 26¢ cents to 40¢ per kilometre. Communities: Geraldton will see more CCTV installed as part of a $2.3m Statewide rollout to combat antisocial behaviour, while $1m is going to Police and Community Youth Centres to support youth diversion programs in the city. More than $480m per year is set to be spent on police services across regional WA, including 123 stations and nearly 1900 officers and staff, with $14.3m to provide free police academy accommodation for regional recruits. Regional courts will also benefit from $5m in security upgrades. Planning for a new evacuation centre in Kalbarri can begin with $250,000 pledged for the project as well as the Statewide commitment of $6.7m to support DFES's aerial fire response capability, with two strike teams to mitigate the threat of crop fires during the grain harvesting season. Sport: Geraldton's GBSC Sport Park will receive $3m for new toilets and change rooms, including facilities for women, while the Geraldton Netball Association is getting $2.8m to upgrade its Wonthella courts and amenities. The Backroads Gravel Festival will be supported with $450,000 in funding to keep the Mid West cycling event running for the next three years. The Midwest Kart Club in Geraldton will receive $100,000 to improve onsite medical facilities and the Dongara-Irwin Race Club has been allocated $92,000 for infrastructure upgrades. Education: Geraldton Senior High School is set for a $8m windfall for classroom refurbishments, LED lighting and air-conditioning upgrades, while Champion Bay High School will have a new gymnasium after a $23.5m promise. More than $20m will fund the establishment of new regional university study hubs, giving students in the Mid West and other regions greater access to tertiary education. Another $28m has been given to expand the School Breakfast Program to provide free breakfasts five days a week at more than 650 schools, including in the Mid West.
Perth Now
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
WA boy hailed hero for saving dad in horror tractor accident
Paul 'Pablo' Sleeman, who saved his father's life following an horrendous tractor accident, has been named the Shire of Denmark's Youth Citizen of the Year. The 13-year-old, known by all as Pablo, called 000 and alerted his mother when his father, Dr Alex Sleeman, was critically injured after his tractor rolled in September last year, pinning him underneath. The popular Denmark GP suffered serious spinal injuries, but his son's quick actions helped get him to Denmark Hospital within the hour and then, via the Royal Flying Doctor Service, to Perth. Since the accident, with his father learning to walk again, Pablo has raised more than $32,000 for the RFDS, which has also included a family fitness challenge. Deputy shire president Jan Lewis said he had also helped rescue swimmers from local beaches. 'He has shown exceptional bravery and compassion, leadership and dedication to community safety, making him an inspiring role model,' she said. Shaun Ossinger, a dedicated environmentalist, sports coach and mentor, was named the shire's Community Citizen of the Year. Cr Lewis said his leadership of the Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee was testament to his dedication to environmental matters. Paul 'Pablo' Sleeman, 13, Bradley Woodruff, Lesley Murphy, Anthony McEwan, Jy Drummond, 15, Shaun Ossinger and Darin Hockley. Credit: Serena Kirby 'Shaun's unwavering commitment to our environment and community has left a profound and lasting impact on the shire,' she said. As well as being an environmental champion, Mr Ossinger is also a basketball coach, a student mentor and drives a sailing safety boat. The Senior Citizen of the Year was Lesley Murphy, recognised for her tireless volunteer work with St John WA, the St Ayles Skiffs and the Bowling and Recreation Club. 'Her dedication, leadership and quiet acts of kindness make her an inspiration and deeply deserving community champion,' Cr Lewis said. Capt. Darin Hockey accepted the Group Citizen of the Year award, representing the Denmark Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service. A shire statement said the group was recognised for 'over 60 years of courage, leadership, and community spirit, in responding to emergencies, educating the public, and mentoring future volunteers'. In the sport presentations, Anthony McEwan earned the senior award having been recognised for his contribution to Denmark's surf lifesaving club. Mountain biker Jy Drummond, 15, won the junior award while the Service to Sport award went to Bradley Woodruff for his commitment to supporting young athletes across multiple sports. The awards were announced at a volunteer appreciation sundowner at the town's Resource Centre Gallery on Saturday. The theme of the evening was National Volunteer Week's Connecting Communities.
