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Flying Doctor celebrates 25 years in Dubbo


The Royal Flying Doctor Base Hangar at Dubbo. Inset: RFDS CEO Greg Sam. Photos contributed


uly marks 25 years since the Royal Flying Doctor Service commenced operations from Dubbo through the support of the Australian government and many generous supporters.

The service began with one plane, three pilots, three nurses and one administrator in rented premises at Dubbo Airport in 1999.

At first, the RFDS primarily performed inter-hospital transfers and as needs grew, moved to conducting emergency retrievals and non-emergency patient transport.

In the years since, it has expanded to offer primary health clinics to surrounding regions, oral health care and mental health and alcohol and other drugs services.

The RFDS now employs more than 130 people across this wide array of services. This includes remote clinics, the Dubbo Wellbeing Place, and school and nutrition programs.

CEO Greg Sam said so much had been achieved in 25 years, making Dubbo an integral part of RFDS health delivery.

“Two flight nurses have been with the Dubbo Base since the very beginning, and I am always awestruck by the stories they share and the passion they still feel for the work they do many decades later,” Greg said.

“The need for services out of Dubbo was recognised in the early 1990s, and there was great effort from a lot of people to make that happen.

“It started small but quickly grew to what we see today, an essential hub providing primary and emergency healthcare by air and road to communities who would otherwise have to travel large distances to receive vital healthcare,” Greg said.

“It is important to recognise the efforts of supporters and donors, Dubbo Regional Council and the state and federal government. […]


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