North Queensland Region

Safeguarding rural and remote communities

At LifeFlight, our mission is to bring critical care closer to home. Our Mount Isa and Townsville bases are small but mighty, pivotal in delivering vital services to North Queensland the region and are steadily growing expanding to meet the needs of our growing community.

Mount Isa's journey

Our Mt Isa base is home to LifeFlight’s western most helicopter rescue service which covers a staggering 23 percent of Queensland, or 500,000km2. First established in 2007, known then as the Mount Isa Community Helicopter and later, as NQ Rescue, to ensure every person, all the way from the remote Mornington Island to Birdsville and the Northern Territory border, had equal access to emergency aid.

In 2015, we proudly merged with NQ Rescue, marking the start of our service in North West Queensland. What began as a one-year contract with Queensland Health blossomed into a strong five-year commitment under LifeFlight. Fast forward to 2024 and the State Government made a 10-year commitment to our rescue helicopter service, including our Mt Isa operation, ensuring we continue to deliver world-class health care to those who need it most.

Our partnership with Royal Flying Doctor Service in Mount Isa boosts our ability to deliver exceptional care and strengthens our mission to keep communities connected with vital services. Together, we’re ensuring our response is not just effective, but unbeatable.
A new joint base is currently under development in Mount Isa. This upcoming facility will further enhance our presence and capabilities, providing even greater support to the region.

We are actively bringing essential medical professionals and expertise that’s vital for the community. This is a team effort driven by local determination and support and your involvement can make a difference.

Townsville’s journey

Since 2009, our Townsville based air ambulance jets have been the vital link in Queensland’s health service network, making it possible to move patients quickly and efficiently across vast distances, to get them to higher levels of health care, when they need it most.

Starting with 15 missions in our first year, LifeFlight’s local air ambulance team has now helped more than 3,500 people.

2024 marked a significant milestone for our Townsville air ambulance operation, as it celebrated 15 years of operation. The local base is now home to a Challenger 604 aircraft which is primarily used for high-acuity, long-range patient transport and can operate day or night, in all kinds of weather.
The twin-engine business jets, which have been converted into air ambulance aircraft, are the flying equivalent of an intensive care unit. Each jet has a Captain, a First Officer, a Flight Nurse and Critical Care Doctor on board.

From our Townsville base, our jets can be deployed quickly to the far north or Central Queensland to fly patients back to major airports and hospitals, while also responding to international repatriations with support from our jets located in Singapore and Brisbane.

LifeFlight North Queensland team transporting patient

Our impact in North Queensland

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North Queensland Regional Advisory Committee

As a team of passionate and experienced community leaders, our Regional Advisory Committee in the North West Queensland help support and guide our mission.

Help us create our new Mount Isa Base

Help us go further and faster for North West Queensland. As the needs of the communities we serve continue to evolve so too does our need to provide a new aeromedical facility to the people of Mount Isa and surrounding regions. 

From our patients

“We wouldn’t be able to survive up here without organisations like LifeFlight”

- Past patient Josh Ward

Josh Ward was riding a horse while mustering cattle when a beast broke away from the mob. He quickly rode off after it when they ran into a rocky, two-metre-deep hole in the ground, camouflaged by long grass. The fall left the Longreach local with a punctured lung. Josh was a four-hour drive to the nearest hospital, LifeFlight’s local helicopter crew made that trip a lot shorter. This mission highlights the crucial connection LifeFlight plays in bridging the medical gap for rural and remote communities.

What’s happening in your region

Throughout the year there are many LifeFlight and community-led events.
Stay up to date with how you can get involved in your region. 

Explore our locations

Our fleet of helicopters and jets provide emergency medicine and protection where others can’t. We perform a unique and vital function in the healthcare system, connecting you to the best medical specialists, no matter where you are. Explore our base locations to learn more about our impact in your community.

Our bases

Check out our bases at Mount Isa and Townsville and learn more about their capabilities.

Help us make a difference​

Every contribution strengthens our community, helping us save more lives. There are so many ways to make a difference, join us and support our mission today.