Retrieval Registrar - Cairns Base - 2027-1 term

LifeFlight Australia; Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 230,000 - 290,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging up to $15,900 FBT per

Job summary

LifeFlight Australia is seeking a qualified Critical Care Doctor for a full-time, six-month fixed-term position based in Cairns for the 2027-1 term. The role involves pre-hospital care with flight teams, training at the LifeFlight Academy in Brisbane, and missions across the Queensland region.

You will join a multidisciplinary team, receive supervision and development opportunities in retrieval medicine and aviation‑based care.

Qualifications

• Hold registration as a Medical Practitioner with the Medical Board of Australia / AHPRA.
• Have completed Fellowship Primary Exams (or equivalent).
• Be in the final two years of advanced post‑graduate training in a critical care discipline (Emergency Medicine, Anaesthesia, or Intensive Care Medicine).
• Have completed a minimum of six months experience at Training Registrar level in Emergency Medicine, Anaesthesia, Intensive Care Medicine, Paediatric Emergency Medicine, Paediatric Anaesthesia, or Paediatric Intensive Care Medicine (or 12 months in mixed adult and paediatric critical care).
• Demonstrate excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively within a multi‑disciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Provide pre-hospital treatment and medical monitoring with flight nurses and paramedics.
• Complete missions for the LifeFlight rescue helicopter and air ambulance fleets; participate in ongoing education and development.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Aviation safety awareness

Education

Registration with Medical Board of Australia / AHPRA

Fellowship Primary Exams (or equivalent)

Job description

About the Role

LifeFlight is searching for a suitably qualified Critical Care Doctor who is ready to embrace a new challenge and advance their medical career.

We have a full-time (1.0 FTE), six-month fixed-term opportunity based in Cairns for the 2027-1 term.

When you join the LifeFlight Medical team, you will undertake an eight-day training program at the LifeFlight Training Academy in Brisbane, comprising four days of aviation training (including Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET) and winch training) and four days of clinical training.

Our Critical Care Doctors provide, in collaboration with flight nurses and paramedics, pre-hospital treatment and medical monitoring through the deployment of our rescue helicopter and air ambulance fleets. They also complete missions for other providers of emergency and aeromedical care to the Queensland community.

During the term you will receive regular clinical supervision, together with ongoing education and development opportunities to enhance clinical leadership, decision‑making, and management skills in retrieval medicine and pre‑hospital care.

About You

We are seeking a motivated medical practitioner who is committed to excellence, teamwork, and delivering life‑saving care.

To be considered for this role, applicants must:

• Hold registration as a Medical Practitioner with the Medical Board of Australia / Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
• Have completed Fellowship Primary Exams (or equivalent)
• Be in the final two years of advanced post‑graduate training in a critical care discipline (Emergency Medicine, Anaesthesia, or Intensive Care Medicine)
• Have completed a minimum of six months experience at Training Registrar level in:
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Anaesthesia
  • Intensive Care Medicine
  • Paediatric Emergency Medicine, Paediatric Anaesthesia, or Paediatric Intensive Care Medicine or 12 months’ experience in mixed adult and paediatric critical care
• Demonstrate excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively within a multi‑disciplinary team
• Be eligible and able to obtain an Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC)
• Be credentialed by Retrieval Services Queensland (RSQ) within the approved scope of practice
• Be eligible to work in Australia without restriction
• Meet safety and aviation requirements

Why LifeFlight?

Meaningful Impact

Working with LifeFlight Australia provides an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on people's lives. The organisation is dedicated to saving lives, delivering critical care services, and responding to emergencies. Employees can take pride in contributing to a mission‑driven organisation focused on making a positive difference in the community.

Collaboration & Support

At LifeFlight, we are committed to fostering a culture of camaraderie and teamwork. Our aeromedical operations thrive on the close collaboration between medical professionals, pilots, and support staff, all working together in high‑pressure environments. We value a supportive and inclusive workplace where individuals can rely on one another, creating a strong sense of purpose and unity. By harnessing the power of teamwork and pooling our strengths, we believe we can overcome any challenge, achieve our goals, and find fulfillment in the critical work we do.

Salary Packaging Options

As an employee of LifeFlight, you have the opportunity to benefit from salary packaging, allowing you to allocate up to $15,900 per Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) year towards general living expenses. This includes covering various everyday costs like groceries, petrol, mortgage, rent and school fees, providing you with added financial flexibility and support.

At LifeFlight, we’re committed to serving all communities across Queensland and beyond. We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, as well as people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, to apply. We value the unique perspectives and experiences that diversity brings to our team and the communities we support.

This is an excellent opportunity to work in a growing organisation that is dedicated to saving lives and serving the community. If you believe you have the necessary skills and experiences, we would love to hear from you today.

Applications close on 20 September 2026 at 5pm AEST