What can you do if substance use is negatively impacting on your life or someone that you know? This podcast episode of our Small Talk, Big Difference campaign explores drug and alcohol harm minimisation, providing information to help yourself or others ..read more

Learning the art of saying ‘no’ can help manage feelings of being stressed and overwhelmed with life. If you are always running on empty and find it difficult to say ‘no,’ then Dr Tim Driscoll from the RFDS Outback Mental Health team has some simple strategies that could help you manage daily demands, reduce your stress and improve your overall wellbeing ..read more

Relaxing is not something we think about when we are stressed and overwhelmed, but taking some time out of your day to be mindful and present can actually help reduce burn out. Sharyn Bunn is a Senior Mental Health Clinician for the RFDS, who explains how to practice relaxation techniques, how to make time in your busy day and other ways to quiet your mind. It might surprise you to find out how simple changes can make a big difference to your productivity, sleep and general wellbeing ..read more

Jacinta Jones is the State Manager for Aeromedical Nursing and has worked for the Flying Doctor for more than a decade. But nothing could have prepared her for flying on the front line during the pandemic. In this episode, Jacinta shared what goes through clinical staff’s minds when they retrieve COVID positive patients, how they navigated the fear that PPE gear provoked and the integral role the RFDS played in the roll out of the COVID vaccines ..read more

In this 3 part-series, you’ll hear the stories of 3 different nursing careers from within the organization - from an outback flight nurse, to a male flight nurse and a former nurse, now our CEO. This time, you’ll hear from Charleville based Flight Nurse, Courtney Bylett. Courtney grew up in the city, but always longed to be on the family property. She started her nursing career in the remote regions of Western Australia, before returning home to Queensland to join the Flying Doctor. She’s now been with the service 8 years and says she’s learnt a lot in her time. Listen to the podcast to hear m ..read more

It’s certainly no secret that the toll on our mental health was one of the most significant but often hidden costs of the pandemic. If you are still feeling the impacts of a few long and hard years, you are not alone. RFDS Clinical Lead for Outback Mental Health, Dr Tim Driscoll joins us to chat about the toolkit you will need if you’re still feeling the long term affects of the pandemic ..read more

In this episode of the Small Talk, Big Difference podcast, RFDS Clinical Lead for Outback Mental Health Dr Tim Driscoll speaks with Stephanie Donovan, a Senior Mental Health Clinician in Disaster Recovery for the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service. Across her career, Stephanie has worked in impacted communities of natural disasters, including supporting the Lockyer Valley community following the 2011 floods, Northern QLD after cyclone Yasi and the Sunshine Coast community after the 2019 bushfires. Here, she explains some common reactions to potentially traumatic experiences, and her ad ..read more

Everyone knows that kids like to ask questions, and the topic of the Coronavirus is no exception! So, we thought we’d answer a few of them with the help of RFDS (Queensland Section) Head Medical Consultant Dr Katie Clift. Thanks to 8yo Ellie from Brisbane, Harry from Rockhampton, 15 year old Scott and 12 yo Max and Charlie from Wrotham Park Station as well as 5yo Ellie and 9yo Robert from Gilberton Station ..read more

In the latest episode of the Small Talk, Big Difference podcast, RFDS Clinical Lead for Outback Mental Health Dr Tim Driscoll reflects on his conversation with Rockhampton SES Local Controller Eddie Cowie. Eddie experienced the impact of compounding stress when he lost his farm and livelihood in the 2019 bushfires, not long after surviving extreme droughts, and a cyclone. Faced with a long road to recovery - financially and emotionally - Eddie called upon the resources that were available to help improve his mental health. Listen to find out how a small talk made a world of difference ..read more

Do you know how you would handle an emergency situation, or how you would go about recovering after losing your home and livelihood? It’s a situation nobody wants to be in, but in 2019, Rockhamptom SES Local Controller Eddie Cowie had to figure out the answers to those questions - quickly. After bushfires engulfed his farm and he fought to help his community evacuate the flames, Eddie faced an unimaginable road to recovery both financially and emotionally. Here, he speaks with RFDS Clinical Lead for Outback Mental Health Dr Tim Driscoll about the steps he took, and shares how a cup of tea and ..read more