$15 million boost for Flying Doctor

RFDS Head of Health Strategy and Planning Jackie Hanniver (centre) with Health Minister Ryan Park and Member for Barwon Roy Butler. Photo Contributed

A major state government funding boost for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) will assist people in rural and remote NSW to access healthcare.

Last week the NSW Health Minister Ryan Park announced an additional $15 million in funding for RFDS as part of the 2025-26 NSW budget.

In making the announcement, Mr Park said that “the Minns Labor Government continues delivering better essential services our communities rely on”.

Operating for 97 years, the RFDS is a key partner of NSW Health and employs over 390 staff in NSW to deliver a range of services including primary care, dental, mental health, retrieval services and patient and clinician transport to rural communities.

The $15 million is in addition to funding the state government provides to RFDS to deliver services to communities across NSW, including in rural and remote NSW. This includes:

Aerial Health Service to transport clinicians to rural and remote locations, hospital transfers operating from Dubbo and Broken Hill air bases, transporting patients who are a seriously ill or in a life-threatening condition, Non-Emergency Patient Transfers to and from public hospitals and health facilities, and Medical Services Clinics, Oral Health Services and Alcohol and Other Drug Services in Far Western NSW.

The additional funding will ensure RFDS can continue to provide comprehensive health services to rural and remote NSW. […]

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