A Visit to the Royal Flying Doctor Service

Why Their Work Matters

A few years ago, I spent five weeks travelling through New South Wales, and one of the highlights was a stop in Broken Hill. While I was there, I visited the Royal Flying Doctor Service base at the airport and joined one of their tours. It was genuinely fascinating. The scale and impact of the work they do for remote communities is extraordinary.

In 2025, they had 23 aero bases and 87 aircraft, flew 25,475,543 km, transported 32,949 patients by aeromedical aircraft and had 345,136 patient contacts.

I love the Australian outback, but my time there is nothing compared to the people who live in these remote regions year‑round. At home, an emergency might mean a 10‑minute ambulance ride to the nearest hospital. On a trip through South Australia, standing in Mt Dare, in the far north of the state, I realised that the same situation could mean relying on the RFDS for a flight to Coober Pedy Hospital — 400 km away — or even Port Augusta Regional Hospital, 750 km from where I was standing.

I’ve never needed the RFDS myself, and I hope I never do, but I donate to them every month because their work is essential. They’re a lifeline for people who don’t have the luxury of nearby medical care.

If you’d like to support them too, you can make a one‑off or recurring donation on their website.

To the RFDS team — keep up the incredible work.