We welcomed the Minister for Health, the Hon. Chris Picton MP, the Hon. Geoff Brock MP, and Eddie Hughes MP to Andamooka as part of a focused visit highlighting our region’s health priorities and the urgent needs of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) across the Andamooka Opal Fields.

The visit began at the Andamooka Observatory with a town briefing and orientation, and then to Cal the Stoner’s Outdoor Intricarved Stone Sculpture Studio, where the Ministers viewed the internationally renowned Andamooka Tiger and spoke with local opal miners and crew members from ABC’s Backroads with Heather Ewart, Outback Opal Hunters (Mooka Boys), and Opal Hunters: Red Dirt Roadtrip. The discussions quickly shifted to the reality of living and working in one of Australia’s most remote communities and the lifeline that the RFDS provides.

Local miners and their families, including Matt and Nikita, shared first-hand accounts of how RFDS intervention saved their lives or those of their loved ones. Their stories underscore what everyone in the region already knows: a fully equipped and responsive RFDS service is essential for the safety and well-being 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. The conversation focused on three key priorities:

  • Maintaining current services, which are already stretched but vital
  • Progressing plans for a new clinic to meet current and future demand
  • Ensuring the facility remains ready for both routine care and emergency response

The visit concluded at the Andamooka Underground Art Gallery — a unique space combining opal, art and history — where local leaders, school representatives, business owners, and airfield stakeholders joined the delegation for lunch. Many attendees shared their own RFDS stories, adding a deeply personal and urgent perspective to the day’s discussions.

We thank the Ministers for taking the time to engage directly with our community and for listening to the lived experiences that clearly demonstrate why a strong and fully supported RFDS presence is critical for Andamooka and the broader outback region.