15 years of lifesaving impact.
Since 2008, the Humpty Dumpty Foundation has responded to the priority needs of New South Wales and the ACT, donating a total of 10 ambulances to NETS.
NETS is a truly unique service in Australia, quietly and tirelessly working 24/7 to ensure that every child, no matter where they are in NSW or the ACT, receives the specialised care they deserve.
Ambulances of Excellence
NETS ambulances are not your typical vehicles. They are meticulously designed and equipped to provide intensive care for critically ill babies and children.
These ambulances often cover up to 400 kilometres from their base at Bankstown in Sydney, and even further when air retrieval is not feasible.
A Dedicated Mission: Saving Lives
When a call comes in, NETS ambulances and expert clinical teams head to the scene, delivering intensive care and ensuring patient stabilisation for transportation. Once the patient is "retrieved" to the relevant hospital, the team continues treatment on-site for up to 2.5 hours. On average, each mission spans 6.5 hours.
These ambulances are equipped to handle life support equipment for both babies and older children simultaneously, enabling teams to pivot to new missions without returning to base. They can even accommodate two patients at once.
Humpty's Founder and Chairman, Paul Francis, Humpty's Medical Director, Rebekah McLachlan, and NETS Director, Andrew Berry pose in front of NETS ambulance donated by a Humpty supporter.
A Lifelong Commitment to Saving Lives
Every ambulance in the fleet performs about 200 missions annually, covering approximately 20,000 kilometres. Over its lifetime, an ambulance will travel around 200,000 kilometres and transport 2,000 patients aged 0-16, providing critical care when it's needed most.
This means that a baby or child in need of critical care could be in Wilcannia, Cootamundra, or Bourke, and NETS will be there—whether on the road or in the air—with a dedicated team ready to deliver life-saving care precisely when it's needed most.
Dr. Andrew Berry, Director of NETS, emphasises that one in 38 children in rural areas will rely on NETS during their childhood. That's roughly one child in every rural Australian classroom.
Dr. Berry also highlights the remarkable statistic that 99% of the babies and children cared for and transported by NETS not only receive care but also survive—a testament to the unwavering support of the Humpty Dumpty Foundation and our incredibly generous donors.
Together, we're saving lives and making a profound impact on the future of our most vulnerable little ones.
By Rebekah McLachlan
Medical Director-Humpty Dumpty Foundation
If you are in a position to help, you can view other life-changing medical equipment on HUMPTY’S WISH LIST
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