Following a rigorous and competitive open tender process, Australian aviation provider StarFlight has been selected to provide vital helicopter emergency air services in Tasmania from 12 January 2026.

StarFlight is an Australian owned aviation services company specialising in providing mission-critical aviation services, including aeromedical retrieval and law enforcement. 

The new agreement will ensure the ongoing provision of emergency rotary-wing (helicopter) services, including aeromedical retrieval, search and rescue, and aerial law enforcement capabilities across Tasmania.

The new agreement with StarFlight is set to run for 12 years.

This vital service provides critical and often lifesaving services, often in the most challenging of conditions and terrain.

The new agreement ensures the continuation of the essential services Tasmanians expect and rely on, along with access to Starflight's state-of-the-art technologies and extensive support networks.

The competitive open tender process has ensured that the best aeromedical service is being provided at competitive cost. 

The open tender process involved detailed collaboration between all relevant agencies and stakeholders, including the Department of Health, Ambulance Tasmania, and Tasmania Police. 

A detailed set of criteria were evaluated as part of the process, with all tenders subject to intensive scrutiny. The successful application was selected as it clearly demonstrated that it provided the best value for money for Tasmania over the lifetime of the contract.

There is a commitment to retaining local jobs and skills as part of the new contract. StarFlight will be working to secure employees currently working under the present contract, as part of an ongoing recruitment process which will open over the coming weeks.

Current Tasmania Police and Ambulance Tasmania staff working under the current contract will transfer to the StarFlight services in January 2026.

The new aeromedical service will operate from a new purpose-built base located at Cambridge Aerodrome.

In the short term, the new service will have immediate use of an existing facility located at Cambridge Aerodrome, before moving to a new purpose-built facility for the dedicated use of the new rotary-wing aircraft at the Aerodrome.

We acknowledge Rotor-Lift Aviation for its significant contribution over many years of partnership in providing emergency rotary-wing services in Tasmania.

There has been a positive and strong working relationship with Rotor-Lift Aviation for almost 25 years, and we recognise and thank them for more than two decades of service to Tasmania.

A current contract remains in place with Rotor-Lift Aviation for the continued provision of this service to January 2026, and we will continue to work closely with them in the lead-up to the commencement of the new agreement.