Medical Rescue began with a simple yet powerful model: a doctor and a paramedic working together on FIFO (fly-in fly-out) emergency projects.
What started as a mobile, high-intensity healthcare service in remote Australian locations has grown into a global operation with over 300 staff across 12 countries.
The Gold Coast-based company delivers aeromedical evacuations, disaster response and deployable medical teams - often in high-risk - to resource-constrained environments.
Medical Rescue’s story is a testament to how Queensland innovation in healthcare can scale internationally, especially with the right export support.
Strategic export support through Trade and Investment Queensland
Michael Smith, Executive Director of Medical Rescue, credits much of the company’s international momentum to export support provided by Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ).
Through TIQ's network of global trade commissioners, Medical Rescue was introduced to key decision-makers in foreign governments and private sectors - opportunities they may never have accessed alone.
Michael said TIQ not only made introductions but provided guidance on how to export from Queensland, offering cultural insights, regulatory roadmaps, and operational frameworks for navigating diverse healthcare systems.
Fast-tracked global growth
With help to trade internationally, Medical Rescue has rapidly scaled its footprint, offering solutions in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and beyond. TIQ’s on-the-ground expertise accelerated the company’s ability to understand local processes and customs, which are particularly crucial in the healthcare and emergency services sectors.
“Because of TIQ, we’ve been able to expedite our global operations and global reach faster than we ever could have dreamed or anticipated. It’s a fantastic service we have to do business overseas.”
Michael Smith, Executive Director, Medical Rescue
Medical Rescue’s success story exemplifies how Queensland-grown capabilities can translate into global impact.
With ongoing support to export and guidance on how to export effectively, the company has become a flagship for Queensland’s healthcare sector-demonstrating that lifesaving innovation, born in regional Australia, can transform lives across the globe.
Is your business ready to unlock global markets? Learn more about your future export success through TIQ.
Whether you are an experienced exporter looking to expand your global footprint or a new exporter starting your journey, TIQ can help you scale your business internationally.