Brisbane Airport’s new Aeromedical Precinct is set to transform emergency medical services, ensuring faster response times and better health outcomes for remote and regional communities.
Australia’s vast landscape presents significant challenges in ensuring everyone has access to high-quality healthcare and emergency services. People living in rural areas of the country often have lower access to health services and poorer health outcomes compared to their urban counterparts. As a result, aeromedical services become essential in bridging this gap.
By providing rapid transport for patients in emergencies, these services ensure timely access to critical care, ultimately saving lives and improving health outcomes for those in remote communities.
In Queensland, thousands of patients move through Brisbane Airport each year. As the state’s population grows, a new hub at the airport will play a key role in ensuring those in hard-to-reach areas can get the care they need.
Brisbane Airport is delivering the $217 million Aeromedical Precinct in partnership with the Queensland Government. Once complete, the precinct will have the capacity for 26 aircraft and include 18,700 square meters of hangar and headquarters space, along with 17,800 square meters of tarmac parking.
Brisbane Airport CEO, Gert-Jan de Graaff, said the groundbreaking project will significantly enhance the level of care for Queenslanders needing urgent treatment in Brisbane.
“The population growth of Queensland and growth in regional communities gives rise to an increasing need for specialist and emergency health care.
“The state-of-the-art Aeromedical Precinct will provide the opportunity to connect regional Queenslanders with the top-class medical facilities in Brisbane.”
Joining forces
The Aeromedical Precinct is the largest multi-tenanted property built by Brisbane Airport. Located between its twin parallel runways, it will consolidate emergency services that are currently located kilometres apart. This will lead to better response times and help foster collaboration among teams.
“Currently, RFDS, LifeFlight and other emergency agencies are spread across Brisbane Airport,” Mr de Graaff said.
“The Aeromedical Precinct will bring them together in one location, centrally located between our two runways, so they can quickly get into the air. Not only will these lifesavers work together, but they’ll also learn from each other.”
There are four interdependent but related tenants, including two government organisations and two non-government organisations. These are:
- The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS)
- LifeFlight
- Queensland Police Services Aviation Capability Group
- Retrieval Services Queensland
The new facility will integrate and collate patient aeromedical retrieval and transport, as well as clinical and logistic coordination, including statewide telehealth clinical and education support to rural and remote hospitals.
It will also feature:
- Hangars for fixed and rotary-wing aircraft
- Administration areas for managing operations
- A medical base for regional patient and donor transfers
“Brisbane Airport provides a vital 24/7 connection for Queenslanders in regional, country and remote communities who need critical care,” Mr de Graaff said.
“The Aeromedical Precinct will strengthen the current network of aeromedical bases throughout Queensland and deliver long-term serviceability and capacity improvements.
“This will result in improved connectivity to the major hospitals throughout the State, ensuring Queenslanders – particularly located in regional or remote areas – receive effective medical treatment as quickly as possible.”
Around 18 patients are flown in and out of Brisbane Airport every day, highlighting the critical role these services play in supporting better health outcomes. Throughout the 2024 financial year, the Royal Flying Doctor Service flew 4,611 patients to Brisbane Airport. LifeFlight’s Air Ambulance jets airlifted 528 people, and its helicopters helped 552 people.
At the core of the Aeromedical Precinct will be a new transfer patient facility that will care for people transitioning between aircraft and road ambulances.
Striving for sustainability
The project is following a 5 Star Green Star pathway for the four tenanted buildings, aiming for the Australian Excellence accreditation. Part of this process includes a focus on the below areas:
- Amenity and comfort – creating space that caters to diverse needs and promotes inclusivity
- Social procurement strategy – the integration of social value into the buildings, creating more inclusive and equitable opportunities within the construction process
- Responsible procurement – the use of products and materials that have a lower environmental impact
- Energy Source exceptional performance – the incorporation of on-site renewable energy systems
- Responsible finishes – using building finishes that meet high standards of environmental and social responsibility
- During the project’s construction phase, 150 people will be employed on-site, and more than 400 people will work at the precinct once it is operational.
ADCO Constructions is the contractor selected to carry out the works and aims to complete the project in Q1 2027.
Mr de Graaff said there is nothing like the scale of the future Aeromedical Precinct anywhere in the world.
“This is a groundbreaking project that will significantly enhance the level of care for Queenslanders needing urgent treatment in Brisbane.
“The project is a state-led initiative that focuses on long-term community wellbeing.
“There is a highly dedicated team across all the involved stakeholders to deliver each significant milestone of this state-of-the-art precinct.”
