Rescue Helicopter to Lose Sponsorship

Media release – Westpac Rescue Helicopter Tasmania (WRHT), 6 October 2023

Helicopter search and rescue service to lose community funding

Tasmania’s helicopter search and rescue service will lose its sponsorship and community funding support early next year, following a Government decision to withdraw the sponsorship licence from the volunteer fundraising body.

This follows today’s presentation of $150,000 from Westpac Rescue Helicopter Tasmania (WRHT) to fund specialist police training to significantly enhance the safety of the state’s helicopter rescue service.

This is the largest single funding allocation provided by WRHT which has now supported the helicopter rescue service for more than 25 years. It is in addition to more than $75,000 recently allocated for other specialist training and safety equipment, bringing the amount provided to the helicopter rescue service over the past quarter to more than a quarter of a million dollars

WRHT Chair Tony Harrison OAM said the funding had been made possible through Westpac’s generous sponsorship now extending for almost three decades to complement the service’s own fundraising efforts.

WRHT estimates it has raised approximately $10 million to support the helicopter rescue service since its establishment in 2000, with the majority of this coming from Westpac’s sponsorship. Westpac has sponsored the service since 1994 and has been the naming-rights sponsor since 2000.

“Sadly, the more than $250,000 in recent funding will likely be the last major allocation from WRHT as the State Government has withdrawn our licence to raise funds through sponsorships from January 2024,” Mr Harrison said.

“Without this ability to attract sponsorship, our capacity to fundraise and attract community donations will cease and that money lost from our aeromedical search and rescue service.

“This important training and all the other funding we have provided to enhance the service over the past two decades will in future have to be met by Tasmanian taxpayers, placing a further burden on the already stretched ambulance and police budgets,” he said.

“The Government’s decision is incredibly difficult to understand. We have made a number of representations to enable us to continue to raise funds to support the service, including meeting with the Premier and Health Minister. Unfortunately, this has been to no avail.

“The Government’s action is a great disappointment. It will also cost Tasmania, as late last year we negotiated a substantial increase in Westpac’s sponsorship and developed a strategy to raise up to $2 million and more annually to support the service.

This is now lost to Tasmania,” Mr Harrison said.

Major funding boost for helicopter search and rescue service

Westpac Rescue Helicopter Tasmania (WRHT) has provided $150,000 in funding for specialist training to significantly enhance the safety of the state’s helicopter rescue service.

The funds will be used to launch an innovative front left seat training program for Tasmania Police aircrew officers enabling them to provide additional support for helicopter pilots and boost compliance with air safety requirements, particularly important when flying in often challenging operational environments. The specialist training will be undertaken interstate.

This is the largest single funding allocation provided by Westpac Rescue Helicopter Tasmania which has now supported the helicopter rescue service for more than 25 years.

WRHT Chair Tony Harrison OAM said the funding had been made possible through Westpac’s generous sponsorship now extending for almost three decades to complement WRHT’s own fundraising efforts.

“Aviation safety requirements are continuing to evolve, and the course will provide Police aircrew officers with the skills and knowledge required to perform non-pilot cockpit duties in compliance with Civil Aviation Safety Authority and national operating standards,” Tony Harrison said.

“Officers will gain proficiency in monitoring of aircraft systems and flight conditions in normal as well as in abnormal and emergency situations. The training will significantly enhance the safe and effective performance of the State’s aero-medical rescue service in Tasmania’s often complex operational environment.

“Importantly, the trained Police aircrew officers will provide enhanced safety for all crew members and those rescued and transported on the helicopters.”

WRHT estimates it has raised around $10 million to support the helicopter rescue service since its establishment in 2000, with the majority of this coming from Westpac’s sponsorship. Westpac has sponsored the service since 1994 and has been the naming-rights sponsor since 2000.

This latest funding allocation follows the provision of more than $75,000 announced in July for other specialist training and safety equipment, bringing the amount provided to the helicopter rescue service over the past quarter to more than a quarter of a million dollars.