From the far reaches of Cape York to the rugged beauty of Kangaroo Island, Angel Flight is proud to have transformed the lives of thousands of Australians living in rural and remote areas. Serving people at every life stage, from expectant mothers to the elderly and even in their final days, Angel Flight is a critical link in the chain of rural healthcare.
In regional and remote Australia, ageing populations and vast distances create significant barriers to medical care. Too often, elderly residents endure pain or delay seeking treatment because the journey to health services is daunting or simply unfeasible. Since its founding in 2003, Angel Flight has worked to overcome these barriers by coordinating free, non-emergency flights to assist people of all ages in accessing vital healthcare.
Take Noeleen, an Indigenous woman from Brewarrina, who has been battling cancer for many years. When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted medical access, Angel Flight stepped in, delivering her medication and essential equipment so she could continue immunotherapy treatment without leaving her community. It was through experiences like Noeleen’s that Angel Flight recognised a deeper challenge: for many patients, especially those from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, cultural ties, declining health, compounded with financial and geographic restrictions make travelling to city hospitals a distressing and sometimes impossible journey.
In response, Angel Flight expanded its mission beyond patient transport. It now also flies doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and support workers into remote communities, addressing gaps in rural healthcare. This expansion culminated in the launch of the Rural Medi Flights program, which is already making a tangible impact.
One shining example is 91-year-old Betty from Kangaroo Island. When persistent leg pain required a diagnostic scan in Adelaide, the 12-hour round trip by bus and ferry was not an option for her.
“Not eligible for Air Ambulance, I was relieved to be collected by Angel Flight for my scan in Adelaide. It was not possible for me to catch a bus and a ferry and another bus with the level of pain I was in,” said Betty.
A full day of exhausting travel for Betty was replaced by a 30-minute flight piloted by long standing Angel Flight pilot Owen Crees, who this month is approaching 500 flights for the charity. Owen is also part of a pilot initiative transporting medical professionals—like Dr O’Halloran—to communities such as Kangaroo Island. Dr O’Halloran and many other medics have flown regularly with Angel Flight from Aldinga to Kangaroo Island improving continuity of care and dramatically increasing the number of patients she can see in a single trip.
Proving the full circle impact, as it happens, Dr O’Halloran was also the physician who referred Betty to Adelaide for specialist care.
“I was so grateful to Owen and Angel Flight for collecting me after Dr O’Halloran referred me to for the free service,” said Betty.
Inspired to give back to the charity and support the Kangaroo Island community, Betty hosted a Mitre 10 sausage sizzle in November 2024, raising several hundred dollars in support of Angel Flight’s work. It was her way of saying thank you—and of helping others in her community access the same life-changing support.
The work of Angel Flight is a powerful reminder that compassionate care, community spirit, and access to health services should not be determined by postcode or birth date. As rural Australia continues to age, initiatives like these are not just helpful—they are essential.
Tresna is 75 years old and resides in Deniliquin, an idyllic country town (MM4) in southern New South Wales, nestled Read more
For many older people in rural Australia, staying connected, physically active, and mentally sharp can be challenging. Long distances, fewer Read more
Every Monday morning, Gloria walks into her Darwin physiotherapy clinic with a warm smile and a friendly greeting for each Read more
COTA QLD has been advocating for over 60 years to ensure all older people’s rights, needs and interests are heard. Read more