Mark & Andrew (Heart of Australia) Part 1

Mark Hogan visited the Heart of Australia truck in Cairns parked at the Cairns Show Grounds.

On the Highway to Health…

Heart of Australia is the first mobile medical program delivering specialist services to regional and remote communities in Queensland.

Heart of Australia

The service:

• Heart of Australia began in 2014 and is the brainchild of Brisbane-based cardiologist Doctor Rolf Gomes.
• The service delivers specialist care to Dalby, Stanthorpe, Goondiwindi, St George, Quilpie, Charleville, Miles, Roma, Childers, Biloela, Moura, Banana, Theodore, Blackall, Barcaldine, Longreach, Winton, Cloncurry, Hughenden, Charters Towers, Moranbah, Emerald, Richmond, Rolleston, Springsure, Middlemount, Sarina, Proserpine, Ayr, and Cooktown. Static clinics are provided in Palm Island and Weipa.
• The fleet of Heart of Australia trucks has travelled more than 500,000 kilometres.
• The new truck HEART 5, will see Heart of Australia travel around 50,000 kilometres per year to coal fields across the Bowen and Surat Basins, the North West Minerals Province, and the opal and gem fields in the west and south west of the state.
• Heart of Australia has seen more than 12,00 unique patients over the past seven years.
• Heart of Australia has saved more than 500 lives to date.
• From January 2021 to December 2021, Heart of Australia saw 7,243 patients at 343 clinics, saving 4,482,082 kilometres if patients needed to travel to nearest alternative specialist care.

The truck:

• The HEART 5 truck was built in Brisbane.
• It is a custom, articulated rig built to the standard B-Double road train measurements of 26-metres.
• The fifth truck has more than $1 million worth of medical and IT equipment on board, including an X-ray and CT scanner.
• HEART 5 has two consult rooms, two tech rooms, waiting area verandas, a wheelchair access lift, full kitchen, AV systems with screens and projectors, a reception area, full air conditioning and toilet facilities.
• The truck can be self-powered for up to 10 days using diesel, batteries, and solar panels.
• The truck is driven by a DAF XF 530 prime mover.

Referral Form | Heart of Australia