Australia's aero-medical retrieval services lead the world in best practice and a new agreement to be signed between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and CareFlight will enhance research into this critical health care service.

CareFlight, operating across the eastern seaboard states of Australia, is the only emergency helicopter service that employs its own team of doctors and medical staff. The signing of the agreement on Tuesday 15 June, will see CareFlight become an affiliate of Charles Sturt University.

Executive Director of CareFlight, Ian Badham says aero-medical retrieval of critical patients is a specialised area in trauma medicine and linking with CSU will do much to extend and foster research in this area.

"The very nature of this country means that services such as CareFlight play an important role in saving lives, especially for people in regional areas. Charles Sturt University, which has campuses based in key NSW regional cities, has specialised in paramedic training and regional health issues - and this makes our joining together a very logical fit," Mr Badham said.

Charles Sturt University led Australia in providing degree programs for ambulance officers and now offers programs for ambulance, emergency service, police and defence personnel. Allied health courses are also taught in Canada and ambulance programs in the United Kingdom.

"Already our work into rural health is prompting change in this profession and it is a natural extension for CSU to move into other specialised areas of health care," Vice-Chancellor of Charles Sturt University, Professor Cliff Blake said.

"We look forward to combining the considerable expertise that CareFlight has in aero-medical retrieval with that of the University. Our aim is to develop a centre of excellence in this very important health care area," he said.

The agreement will be signed at 3 pm, Tuesday 15 June, at the Westmead Hospital Clubhouse, Westmead (adjacent to the Oval on the grounds of the hospital's campus).