First built and staffed by the Australian Inland Mission (AIM) in 1965, and now operated by the Royal Flying Doctor Service SA/NT, the Andamooka Hospital has been at the heart of our community for six decades.

In 2023, Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia and Patron of RFDS Central Operations, visited the Andamooka Hospital, recognising its vital role in supporting one of the state’s most remote communities. The Governor returned in May 2024, reaffirming her support for Andamooka and highlighting the importance of strong healthcare services and community resilience across Outback SA.

In June 2024, RFDS SA/NT Chief Executive Tony Vaughan ASM, also a member of the Outback Communities Authority, joined the Andamooka community via Zoom to outline the growing need for a new RFDS clinic and an RFDS-capable airfield.

That vision became reality on 30 June 2025, when the Andamooka Airfield upgrade was completed. The upgraded airfield is now fully operational and in use by the RFDS, significantly strengthening emergency medical access and patient transfer capability for Andamooka and the surrounding opal fields.

Andamooka Airfield (YAMK) Key features:

• ERSA page published with Runway 06/24 and CTAF Frequency 126.6
• A 1,210-metre unsealed runway with 100-metre clearways.
• Permanent solar-powered night lighting (sunset–sunrise operation) enabling safe 24 hour access.
• A remote weather station and live camera system accessible by the RFDS for real time monitoring.
• Locally trained AOFTA volunteers, including certified AROC radio operators and an Aerodrome Reporting Officer, who assist with inspections, communications, and
ground operations.
• Capability to accommodate Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, supporting RFDS, SAPOL, and charter operations directly at Andamooka without reliance on Olympic Dam Airport.
• The upgraded facility also includes over 4 kilometres of perimeter fencing, enhancing safety, wildlife control, and security across the entire airfield boundary
• Toilets, water, AED, First Aid Kits and H3R Aviation Fire Extinguishers.

In May 2025, the RFDS SA/NT Chair, Board, and CEO visited Andamooka to advance discussions on these critical upgrades, vital steps toward strengthening the future of healthcare in our town. These improvements would deliver modern, fit-for-purpose facilities for doctors, nurses, oral health professionals, physiotherapists, and allied health clinicians.

In August 2025, we welcomed the Minister for Health, Chris Picton MP, along with Geoff Brock MP and Eddie Hughes MP, to Andamooka for a focused visit highlighting our region’s health priorities and the needs of the RFDS across Outback SA.

Local miners and their families, including Matt and Nikita, and Colleen and Richard, shared powerful first-hand accounts of how RFDS intervention saved their lives or those of their loved ones. Their stories underscored what everyone in the region already knows: a fully equipped, responsive RFDS service is essential to the safety and wellbeing of our community.

At the RFDS Community Health Clinic, the Ministers met with remote-area nurses and mental health staff to discuss the ongoing challenges of delivering healthcare in Andamooka.

As we celebrate this milestone, we also look to the future honouring the past while championing the next era of healthcare for Andamooka.

Cheers to the RFDS and Andamooka Hospital staff, past and present, whose dedication has kept our community safe for 60 years.