The Australian Government has secured the future of Australia's iconic Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) with a $74.8 million investment.
The three-year investment will enable the RFDS to deliver its primary care, mental health and dental services to more Australians across more remote communities.
Cementing this commitment to improve the health of people in rural and remote communities, the government and RFDS have also signed a long-term strategic partnership until 2031-32.
The RFDS's role is critical to meeting the unique health challenges of remote and very remote Australia meaning even when emergency strikes in the bush, world class health care is not far away.
In 2023-24, the RFDS delivered more than 4,800 primary aeromedical evacuations, 3,800 primary health clinic visits, 2,600 mental health clinics, 36,000 dental services, 2,200 medical chests, and 40,000 remote telehealth consultations.
The RFDS 2023 Best for the Bush baseline report found that compared to people in major cities, people in remote and very remote areas are 2.8 times more likely to be hospitalised for reasons which are potentially preventable conditions.
People in very remote areas are 2.7 times more likely to die from potentially avoidable causes. People in the most remote areas are likely to die 14.3 years earlier, compared to those in major cities.
This critical additional investment follows the $1 billion government commitment to the RFDS over 10 years (2024-25 to 2031-32).
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
"Over nine decades, the RFDS has provided a lifeline for people who live, work and travel in rural, remote and very remote Australia.
"This additional investment from the Albanese Government ensures the RFDS can continue to provide world-class emergency healthcare services.
"The strategic agreement between the Commonwealth and the RFDS is part of our commitment to working together as genuine partners to improve health outcomes for people in the bush.
"Our government is committed to ensuring no-one is left behind in having access to health and medical care. This includes people in rural, remote and very remote areas whose sole emergency health provider can often be the RFDS."
