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The federal government will provide almost $30 million in extra funding to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).
Additional funding of $29.1 million will be given to the RFDS over the two financial years to 30 June 2025, on top of the $1 billion in funding already committed over 10 years. The extra funding includes $1 million for a permanent healthcare hub in William Creek, South Australia.
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“The Albanese Government is making sure everyone can get health care – no matter whether you live in the inner suburbs of our major cities, or the most remote outback town,” said Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler.
“Since its inception almost 100 years ago, the RFDS has always strived to provide first-class health and emergency services to people in the bush.
“Anyone who has known the relief of the RFDS arriving after a farming accident, a car crash on a dusty track, or a heart attack at a sheep station will appreciate how important this extra funding is.”
The new William Creek healthcare centre will offer 24/7 medical care in the outback SA town, with telehealth services available for emergencies as well as space for regular fly-in medical services, said RFDS SA/NT chair Peter de Cure AM.
“In the event of an emergency, first responders will be able to use telehealth technology to instantly contact on-call RFDS doctors,” de Cure said.
“With an on-site AED and remote RFDS Medical Chest, the on-call doctor can advise the local medical chest custodian of immediate life-saving medications and care, while patients wait in a safe and secure treatment room for an RFDS aeromedical crew to arrive.
“The real innovation here is creating a system that facilitates the Chain of Survival and links patients who are hundreds of kilometres from help with immediate hospital-grade medical treatment.”
Minister for Regional Development Kristy McBain said the purpose-built clinic will help the RFDS in its mission to provide “vital services in regional, rural and remote Australia”.
“From primary health consultations, to an emergency space for critically ill patients awaiting transfer to a major hospital, these enhanced services will provide an added level of comfort to locals, and will play a key role in providing confidence to thousands of tourists that visit the local area each year,” she said.
“Having visited William Creek last year ahead of the build, it’s fantastic to see this work now complete – because this remote community will no longer need to travel two hours to their nearest health service.”
