Care across the country

Dallas Coote has established a rewarding career out of transporting Australians to the health care they need both in the air and on the road for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).

His commitment to connecting remote and rural Australians to medical treatment has led him across the country, from the beautifully vast terrain of outback Western Australia to the undulating hills and ocean views of southern Victoria.

It was a lifelong passion for aviation that saw Dallas embark on a Mid West outback adventure, starting his career with RFDS as a line pilot in Meekatharra, Western Australia, several years ago.

Covering the desert terrain, contending with the red dust and navigating isolated geography, Dallas, along with the flight nurse and doctor, provided emergency care to very remote residents.

“It's absolutely amazing. You really get to experience what Australia really is, the unique land that Australia is. So, you really get to see it from the desert to the to the sea, all from that high altitude… absolutely amazing," he says.

Dallas recalls the sheer remoteness of the role required innovative solutions to emergency situations.  

“One day we were a little bit short staffed, so they actually asked if I was able to sort of assist. So, I got to experience getting a little bit more hands on as a pilot, which is a little bit unusual.

“That was a great highlight because, of course, the patient was well looked after and cared for. So, when we got him back to Perth, he just sort of thanked us and said look, 'thanks very much for getting us here safely and well', of course that was a great highlight.”

Delivered in partnership with Western Primary Health Network (PHN), Murray PHN and Gippsland PHN - with additional support from regional health services - Flying Doctor Community Transport provides eligible clients with free transport from home to health appointments and funded Social Support Groups. It is a volunteer-led program, that relies on the generosity of local volunteer drivers.

“The Program Coordinator’s main role is to coordinate the volunteers in driving out to get the clients, essentially, and engaging with the stakeholders in the local community to also let them know about our services and how that can support the community,” Dallas explains.

In Lakes Entrance, Flying Doctor Community Transport works in collaboration with site partner Gippsland Lakes Complete Health.

“They saw a need for the [Community Transport] service down this part and we've been able to partner with them. It's been a very beneficial collaboration - one that is making a real difference to people in our communities needing transport options to essential health and social appointments,” he says.

Since starting with the RFDS, Dallas’ original passion for aviation has developed into a wider interest in the work done around connecting people to all levels of health care.

“The Royal Flying Doctor Service is really, really engaged with wanting to provide health care to those people that can't access it. So, whether it's on a small scale like what is more based here in Lakes Entrance, compared to what we'll do in way out in those remote parts of Western Australia, I think it's a really great step for the Royal Flying Doctor Service to be able to provide this locally in these areas.”

Even though Victoria is a much smaller state than Western Australia, the one constant Dallas says he’s found, is, that without access to transport, all rural and remote people find getting medical treatment difficult – no matter what state or territory they live in.

“With the Community Transport that we provide in Lakes Entrance, we still definitely have the same challenges as what we did have in Western Australia, even though the distances were quite more significant in Western Australia.

"It's the exact same as what the community would face here in Lakes Entrance in that regard... If a person is not able to walk or be able to access public transport, then receiving care becomes a challenge.

“So, the Royal Flying Doctor Service is able to come in and pick up and provide that service where it is needed.”

Learn more about Flying Doctor Community Transport here.

To find out more about the impact our programs and services are having on rural and regional communities, access Our Health and Community Impact report.