When a child in rural Australia faces a serious illness, accessing specialist treatment in major cities can put a massive strain on families. Little Wings is changing that, one flight at a time.
This week, we explore how this small but mighty charity supports regional families with Little Wings CEO Clare Pearson, recipient parent Renee Baird Jones, and child and family psychologist Collett Smart talking about the challenges of medical treatment in rural and remote communities.
Supporting Communities, Saving Futures
Little Wings flies seriously ill children from regional areas to major cities for treatment every single day of the year, completely free and unlimited. They also fly specialist doctors to regional areas to deliver paediatric services where they're desperately needed. It’s a 90 per cent volunteer-led organisation, with all pilots and drivers donating their time.
Clare's vision for Little Wings is to expand their reach and fleet of planes, particularly in regional Queensland, to ensure no child goes without medical treatment simply because of their postcode.
Being able to get a family to and from a metropolitan medical appointment on the same day eases a lot of the pressure that a family with a sick child faces, says Clare. “In many cases, they can remain financially independent, where they can contribute to their community and continue to function and remain united.”
Clare points out that Little Wings provides stability for regional and rural communities as well, saying Little Wings enables parents who travel with their children, usually mothers, to maintain their jobs and roles in the community.
"It's mothers flying with children," says Clare, "and in small communities, she might be the only teacher, hairdresser, or midwife."
"When you take her out for long periods of time, that leaves a huge gaping gap in that community."
"If people don't have that predictability in service and access, they don't stay in these towns, and we need these communities to thrive because they feed our nation."
Little Wings isn't just transporting children – it's preserving families, supporting communities, and ensuring rural Australia can thrive.
A Parent's Lifeline in Crisis
Renee knows first-hand the difference Little Wings makes. When her son Kobi was diagnosed with retinoblastoma – eye cancer – just before his second birthday, their family faced an impossible situation. Living in central west New South Wales, they needed treatment at The Children's Hospital at Westmead in Sydney, a seven to eight-hour drive away.
"Initially we were making the journey by car with two young children. It was very exhausting emotionally, physically, as well as financially," Renee recalls.
When Renee discovered Little Wings, everything changed. The free and quick service provided the family with financial and emotional stress relief. On those flights, Renee says she would take a moment to breathe and reset, and focus her energy on supporting Kobi. The service also meant Renee could maintain workplace stability, taking one instead of three days off for medical treatments, and continuing to support her community back home.
"What it meant is that our whole family could remain together," Renee says. "It was really important for us that we did stick together through the worst times."
The Psychology of Predictability
Child psychologist Collett Smart explains why services like Little Wings have such profound psychological impact. When children face serious illness, they're already dealing with countless unknowns, so bringing stability and routine into the child’s life is important.
"As soon as the child has a few things that are predictable, that really calms their nervous system," says Collett. "Predictability also helps parents – you could focus on all of your children, focus on being together as a family."
Collett says when logistics are sorted and financial pressure eases, parents can be emotionally present, show up for their children in meaningful ways, and maintain work commitments when needed – and all this adds to the sense of safety and security for children.
"So, what a magnificent service," Collett says of Little Wings, "bringing that kind of stability to families."
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