A global network of medical professionals caring for your people

First Assistance is chosen by insurers, corporations, and governments to deliver world class medical services to expatriates, traveler’s and local nationals situated anywhere in the world 24/7.

Our Products

Our team of Medical Specialists, Doctors and Critical Nurses deliver a range of remote medical products and services ensuring your duty of care obligations are met.

Our Stories

  • "Thank you to all the staff involved in our accident while in Japan. The level of care, assistance and professionalism was outstanding. This was a difficult time – Foreign land, not much English etc. Your help made our time much easier."

Our People

From Doctors and Specialists to Nurses and Paramedics — our team work together to ensure first world medical care is always at hand. Talk to Us.

View Our Team

Dr Brett Gerrard - Chief Medical Officer

Brett has spent the last 15 years working as an Emergency Medicine specialist around the world. His passion for aviation medicine has seen him involved with helicopter and fixed wing aeromedical retrieval services in Australia and New Zealand as well as international medical repatriation companies. He is currently completing a Masters in Aviation Medicine. After joining First Assistance 3 years ago, he has recently taken on the role as Chief Medical Officer.

Fran Grieve - Head of Nursing

Fran is responsible for leading First Assistance’s team of medical assistance and repatriation nurses across Australasia. She has extensive nursing experience in acute hospital, medical assistance and repatriation settings both in New Zealand and Europe. Fran joined First Assistance in 2014.

Dr Tony Svensen

Tony is a partner in a thriving full time general practice in Auckland, New Zealand.  In addition to his broad generalist medical background he has extensive experience in aviation medicine and the medical assistance industry and has been a medical consultant to First Assistance for the past 14 years.

Dr Konrad Blackman

Bio to Upload

Dr Ben Powell

Ben is based in Queensland, Australia where he works in Emergency Medicine and Aeromedical Retrieval. He has a Master of Public Health degree (Aeromedical Retrieval) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Travel Medicine (MASTA Medal). Ben has had various roles within First Assistance since 2008, including Medical Adviser from 2016.

Dr Gareth Richards

Gareth is an Australian based pre-hospital and retrieval physician. He works with Lifeflight Australia’s rotary wing and jet air ambulance services in Queensland and beyond on their government, oil and gas industry, and insurance contracts. Regular monthly work with the Auckland Helicopter Emergency Medical Service in New Zealand is on hold due to COVID-19 pandemic mandated travel restrictions. He previously flew with, and coordinated for, the Victorian State Paediatric Emergency Transport Service, now PIPER, for several years. Gareth is a course director and education faculty member for the Emergency Trauma Management (ETM) course, and a Clinical Senior Lecturer with the University of Otago Occupational and Aviation Medicine Unit. He has worked with First Assistance since 2014.

Dr Shaun Counsell

Shaun lives in Wellington and works predominantly in Urgent Care. He also teaches post-graduate travel, tropical and expedition medicine. He has worked in Travel Medicine and General Practice in the recent past.

Dr Ben O'Leary

Ben is a rural generalist with anaesthetic skills, based in regional Victoria. He has worked in Antarctica, Samoa and Far North Queensland, and has a particular interest in altitude illness, remote and tropical medicine, and anaesthetics.

Annually provide medical, security and travel services to 450,000 travellers, 200,000 expatriates for over 7,000 organisations

Global network of over 75,000 approved and accredited service providers including;

  • Hospitals
  • Medical centres
  • Air ambulance providers
  • Helicopters
  • Ambulances
  • Medical Escorts
  • Cost Containment Specialists

Our Contacts

New Zealand

Level 8, 56 Cawley Street
Ellerslie, Auckland 1051
New Zealand

PO Box 17-310, Greenlane,
Auckland 1546, New Zealand

Phone +64-9-356 1656
Fax +64-9-355 0484

Australia

Level 22, 120 Spencer Street, Melbourne,
VIC 3000, Australia

Level 22, 120 Spencer Street, Melbourne,
VIC 3000, Australia

Phone +61 2 8036 3193
Fax +61 2 8569 1381