Key Stats Toowoomba and Roma: FY25
- 994 people helped (up 4.7% on FY24)
- 1,501 flight hours (up 0.73% on FY24)
- 1,050 missions (down 1% on FY24 – includes training)
- 8,497 people helped across the LifeFlight network (up 3.9% on FY24)
Toowoomba LifeFlight airlifted a record number of Darling Downs patients for vital medical treatment to major hospitals in FY25.
New figures released this week reveal that 847 people were airlifted across the region in inter-hospital transfers, 11 per cent higher than the previous period.
Crews in Toowoomba and Roma airlifted 994 people in the 12 months to June 30 including burns victims, stranded hikers, injured motorists, and people hurt by animals.
It included 62 people rescued by the Roma-based Surat Gas Service helicopter, based at the Lee Family and Australian Country Choice LifeFlight Centre.
SGAS partners, including Origin Energy, Shell QGCÂ and Santos, generously donate up to 350 flying hours each year to assure the Roma and Maranoa communities of aeromedical coverage.
The Toowoomba and Roma crews contributed to a record year for LifeFlight, with 8,497 people helped.
The figure was 3.9 per cent higher than FY24 and more than any other year in the not-for-profit’s history.
Animal-related accidents again featured prominently, including an elderly woman airlifted after a horse fall in September, a man in his 30s trampled by a horse in January, and the Roma crew rescuing a man after his motorcycle collided with a sheep in May.
LifeFlight also attended multiple callouts for stranded hikers – winching a man in his 70s from the Main Range National Park in August and another injured hiker who was winched after setting off a personal distress beacon in the Scenic Rim.
In December the Toowoomba base welcomed a new AW139 helicopter to begin service in the Darling Downs region.
LifeFlight recently upgraded the Roma Visitor Experience Centre and is planning a new centre in Toowoomba to be called the LifeFlight Clive Berghofer Visitor Experience and Education Centre.
The centres are where people can get a behind-the-scenes look at LifeFlight’s operation and gain lifesaving skills through the First Minutes Matter emergency trauma training workshops.
People helped by mission/injury type (Toowoomba/Roma):
- Inter-facility transfer – 847 (759) +11.5%
- Cardiac – 103 (94) +9.5%
- Motor vehicle accidents – 101 (102) -1%
- Animal related – 29 (39) -25%
- Search and rescue – 1 (3) -66%
LifeFlight Chief Operating Officer Lee Schofield, said Toowoomba continued to lead the way as the busiest base in the LifeFlight network.
“The data shows how much of a workhorse Toowoomba and Roma are, especially in terms of airlifting patients from regional medical facilities to major hospitals, which is vitally important work.”
He said FY25 was one of the most significant in the not-for-profit’s history.
“Every hour we are called upon to airlift Queenslanders in distress, whether it’s hikers stranded on mountaintops, capsized boaties miles from land, or people needing urgent medical attention in major hospitals,” Mr Schofield said.
“It’s a mission our aeromedical crews carry out with great dedication with the goal of bringing equity in healthcare no matter where or when people need us.
“My sincere thanks go to all LifeFlight’s staff for the incredible work they do. Team effort and coordination across all our work groups is key to providing the world class standard of care and ensuring equity of health care in regional communities.
“To continue to meet this objective, we’re evolving our organisation with the best aircraft, advanced bases and facilities, and cutting-edge training unmatched in our region.”
Mr Schofield said LifeFlight’s growth was possible due to the support from the community, donors and philanthropy, government and new commercial partnerships.
“This generosity and support enable LifeFlight to keep helping more people each year as demand for our services continues to increase,” he said.
LifeFlight Medical Director Dr Jeff Hooper, said the breadth of the missions demonstrated the capability of the aeromedical crews to perform complex procedures under immense pressure.
“Our aeromedical teams provide advanced care under extremely challenging circumstances, whether that is treating patients on scene after serious car crashes, stabilising patients mid-air, rescuing people stranded in the ocean, or winching down a paramedic to hikers stranded on the side of a cliff face,” Dr Hooper said.
“This rapid aeromedical intervention is often the difference between life and death and comes after our crews undertake intensive training at the LifeFlight Training Academy, which prepares them for any situation they may face in the field.”
Dr Hooper said a key part of LifeFlight’s mission was developing and delivering First Minutes Matter emergency trauma training workshops.
“This incredible initiative helps to build community resilience by giving participants the practical skills to manage life-threatening events such as motor vehicle accidents, farming incidents, stroke and snake bites.”
LifeFlight’s helicopter crews, operating from bases on the Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg, Mount Isa, Toowoomba, Roma, and Brisbane, clocked up 3,732 missions in FY25, which included airlifting injured motorists, patients with cardiac problems, seafarers, hikers, and farmers injured by animals.
The number of missions was 10.5 per cent higher than the previous financial year while flight hours also increased by 15 per cent to 5,940.
Much of LifeFlight’s aeromedical work involved Inter-Facility Transfers (IFT). This ensures all communities have equal access to the best possible healthcare, no matter where they live.
Since taking to the skies 46 years ago LifeFlight has helped more than 90,000 people.
LifeFlight helicopters contribute to the Queensland Emergency Helicopter Network via a 10-year service agreement with Queensland Government.
For more information on First Minutes Matter visit First Minutes Matter Program – LifeFlight.
