Job Overview & Organization Mission

CareFlight Top End is seeking a Critical Care Flight Nurse in Darwin to operate aboard rescue helicopters and jets on emergency medical missions.

CareFlight is recruiting a Flight Nurse to join our Darwin aeromedical operations. Working with emergency physicians and aircrew, you will respond to search-and-rescue helicopter missions, remote community trauma scenes, and inter-hospital intensive care transports across the Northern Territory.

As a key member of the team at CareFlight in Darwin, NT, you will play a central role in driving excellence, upholding top-tier Australian industry standards, and contributing directly to the strategic milestones of one of the nation’s premier employers.

Key Duties & Core Responsibilities

In this critical role, your operational duties and key performance responsibilities will encompass:

• Perform rapid: Perform rapid emergency patient stabilization at rural trauma scenes and remote airstrips.
• Manage invasive: Manage invasive ventilators, arterial blood gas monitors, and multi-lumen central lines in-flight.
• Execute aircraft: Execute aircraft emergency protocols, winch operations, and over-water ditching survival drills.
• Coordinate telemetry: Coordinate telemetry transfers and medical handovers to Royal Darwin Hospital trauma teams.

Required Qualifications, Licenses & Experience

To be successful in this position at CareFlight, candidates are expected to satisfy the following essential selection criteria:

• Mandatory Qualification: AHPRA Registered Nurse with Critical Care / Retrieval Credentials.
• Relevant Experience: Minimum 5+ Years of verified industry experience in Australia or recognized overseas equivalence.
• Current unconditional registration with AHPRA as a Registered Nurse.
• Minimum 5 years recent clinical experience in Intensive Care or Emergency Department.
• Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET) certification (or willingness to complete).
• Demonstrated physical resilience and aptitude for harsh outback and tropical environments.

Core Competencies & Key Technical Proficiencies

The successful applicant will possess demonstrated capabilities across the following domain skill sets:

Salary, Compensation & Employee Benefits

At CareFlight, we understand that our people drive our achievements. An outstanding remuneration and wellbeing package is provided in line with Australian benchmarks:

• Competitive Remuneration: AU$118,000 – AU$142,000 per year + standard Australian Superannuation (11.5%).
• Top-tier salary package $118,000 – $142,000 + 11.5% super + remote flight allowances.
• Not-for-profit salary packaging benefits maximizing take-home income.
• Work alongside world-class rescue pilots, critical care doctors, and paramedics.
• Leave Entitlements: 4 weeks annual leave (with 17.5% annual leave loading where applicable) plus 10 days paid personal/carer’s leave.
• Flexible Work: Progressive work-life balance options with supportive corporate culture and leadership development pathways.

About the Employer: CareFlight

CareFlight is an Australian aeromedical charity using helicopters and turbo-props to deliver critical care doctors and nurses to critically injured patients.

CareFlight is deeply committed to building diverse, equitable, and culturally inclusive work environments. We proudly celebrate diversity and welcome applications from all qualified individuals including First Nations Australians, people with disabilities, and candidates from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Application Process & Next Steps

Applications for this position are currently open and being reviewed on a rolling basis. Suitable candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible before the published closing date.

Please prepare an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a tailored Cover Letter highlighting your relevant experience against the key selection criteria outlined above.

To proceed with your application, click the Apply on Employer Site button to access the official CareFlight careers gateway.