Working collaboratively with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), our headspace Port Augusta team initiated an innovative approach to provide a new mental health service for young people living in remote areas – Flying headspace.

Flying headspace is now providing mental health support to those aged 12 to 25 and their families in remote locations where access to services is limited. It focuses on vulnerable youth population groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. As part of this regular service, the headspace mental health clinician is holding alternating clinics every week to Oodnadatta and Marree until June 30, 2022. The RFDS is incorporating other primary health care programs into their vital emergency response service – giving rural South Australians access to previously unavailable services.

It’s a terrific example of innovation and collaboration – improving access and integration of primary health care for people living in remote areas of our state. It encapsulates our mission to bridge the gap of health inequity and access in rural South Australia. Collaborating with the RFDS and headspace to provide Flying headspace has been a remarkable achievement. 

This initiative has been made possible by funding and support from Country SA PHN