General News
9 September, 2025
Doctor dives into rescue role
THE newest LifeFlight critical care doctor in Cairns has fully embraced the Far North Queensland lifestyle as she prepares for the next stage in her aeromedical career.
Dr Elizabeth Wilson, who is originally from New Zealand, began working as a registrar in the emergency department at Cairns Base Hospital in 2023.
She has just undergone a week of intensive aeromedical training at the LifeFlight Training Academy at Brisbane Airport prior to working for LifeFlight, on board the QGAir helicopter in Cairns.
She said the motivation was to expand her experience in retrieval medicine and further develop trouble shooting skills while working in a small team.
"I think working in retrieval medicine, it really makes you appreciate a small team. It really makes you appreciate what you can do and what skills you have to offer, because there’s no one else there,” she said.
“It's just you, a paramedic, a pilot and the RCO (rescue crew officer), so really have to make it work.”
She said the LifeFlight training, including the specialised Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET), had prepared her for the challenges she may face in the field.
Dr Wilson will join Dr Natalie Nicholas and Dr Robert Johnston in Cairns to help Queenslanders access critical care from the sky.
She is one of 29 doctors supporting communities across the state from the southeast to northern Queensland.
LifeFlight HUET manager Mick Dowling said the rigorous training doctors experienced was part of what attracted doctors to LifeFlight.
