Ampol Continues Commitment to Powering Rescue Service

March 18, 2024 -- In a partnership spanning 30 years, Ampol Australia has today extended its support of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service for a further five years as part of its Ampol Foundation program.

The long-standing association between the two iconic Australian organisations will see Ampol continue to provide the Jet A-1 aviation fuel that powers the Service’s fleet of state-of-the-art AW9139 helicopters, which require 360 litres of aviation fuel every hour to fly and keep the communities across Northern NSW safe.

As part of Ampol’s longest-standing partnership, the organisation contributes $600K of fuels in-kind each year, supports a range of fundraising events through the provision of AmpolCash and auction items, and provides a pathway for its people to donate directly to the Service as part of its employee charitable giving program, Fuelling Change.

“We are extremely grateful for Ampol’s support of our operations across Northern NSW and humbled to be their longest-running community partnership,” Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service Chief Executive Officer, Steven Underwood, said.

“Ensuring our aircraft are prepared to swiftly respond 24/7 is essential for saving lives in communities across Northern NSW, and central to this readiness is a dependable provider of high-quality aviation fuels at our Belmont, Tamworth, and Lismore bases.

“We conduct more than 1,500 missions each year across search and rescue, pre-hospital emergencies and inter-hospital transfers, and this vital service would not be possible without the ongoing support of Ampol and our other corporate partners,” Steven said.

According to Ampol General Manager Business to Business, Brad Phillips, it is impossible to calculate any return on investment for the support provided when one considers the number of lives saved across a community of around 1.5 million people each year.

“For more than 30 years, Ampol has supported the essential 24/7 work of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, and we’re proud to be renewing our longest-standing community partnership for another five years,” Brad said.

“Ensuring the safety and well-being of the communities in which we operate is a fundamental principle that drives the efforts of the Ampol Foundation.

“Our partnership with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service allows us to play a meaningful role in helping to safeguard the welfare of the communities of Northern NSW, where we have deep and longstanding connections as a result of our considerable workforces and fuel supply assets in the region,” Brad said.

Today, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service operates in partnership with NSW Ambulance and NSW Health, to deliver the highest standard of aeromedical and rescue services to those in need across a state-wide network.

A NSW Ambulance critical care paramedic and NSW Health doctor are on board each AW139 aircraft to provide the highest quality critical care where it is needed most

About the Service:

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service was established in 1975 and through community support and fundraising it has become a critical service that operates four (AW139) helicopters from three bases in Belmont, Tamworth, and Lismore. Today the service delivers aeromedical response, search, rescue and inter-hospital transfers to care for communities from north of the Hawkesbury River through to the Queensland border and throughout the New England North West.

Along with the pilot and aircrew officer, every primary response mission launches with a dedicated NSW Ambulance critical care paramedic, NSW Health doctor and depending on the needs of each patient, the team may include specialist nursing professionals.

Westpac Bank, the NSW Government through NSW Ambulance and NSW Health, the community and local business partners provide the funds to ensure the Westpac Rescue Helicopter continues to save lives across northern NSW. 

Media contact: 

[email protected]

If you detect any issues, problems, or errors in this press release content, kindly contact [email protected] to notify us (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). We will respond and rectify the situation in the next 8 hours.