About the Royal Flying Doctor Service
How the Royal Flying Doctor Service is organised and works with Australian communities and health systems to deliver remote health care.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) is a national charitable health organisation serving rural and remote Australia. It is widely known for aircraft retrievals, but much of its work also involves planned primary health care.
The RFDS describes its role as providing primary health care and 24-hour emergency services where distance makes mainstream services difficult to reach. See the organisation’s current about page.
One name, regional operations
RFDS services are delivered through regional sections and operating entities. Those services work with state and territory health systems, hospitals, ambulance services, local communities, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and other partners.
This means there is no single national answer to every practical question. Clinic schedules, referrals, service areas and aeromedical tasking can differ by location.
For current local information, use the official RFDS website to select the relevant region or ask the local health service.
More than an aircraft service
Aircraft are essential where distances are vast, but they are one part of the system. RFDS teams also use road vehicles, clinics, telehealth and communications services.
Its work can involve doctors, nurses, pilots, engineers, dentists, mental health clinicians, allied health professionals, operations staff and many other roles. The service mix changes in response to local needs and funding arrangements.
Emergency coordination
People should not rely on a web article to decide which aircraft operator to contact. In a life-threatening emergency, call 000. Emergency services and clinical coordinators determine the appropriate response.
Remote communities, properties and workplaces may have established local radio, clinic or emergency procedures. Residents and workers should learn those arrangements before an incident occurs.
Public and charitable support
The RFDS is a charity and also works within Australia’s public health system through partnerships and service arrangements. Donations, volunteers and community support contribute to its work, but it is misleading to describe a complex national health service as funded by only one source.
Current national reports and financial information are available on the RFDS annual reports page.
Read about RFDS services or explore the history of the Flying Doctor.