Qantas Foundation and the RFDS
With the aim of supporting Australia’s most recognised emergency medical service, the Qantas Foundation formed the partnership by donating $100,000 worth of airfares on Qantas domestic and international flights to the RFDS. The partnership demonstrates Qantas’ commitment to supporting grassroots programs that impact rural and remote Australia. By supporting the RFDS in providing high-quality aero-medical emergency and primary healthcare services, the Qantas Foundation is assisting the RFDS in saving the lives of Australians and international visitors who are in need of emergency medical attention and closing the gap in healthcare between country and city residents.
The Qantas Foundation’s support has assisted the RFDS to successfully deliver a number of significant initiatives over the past 12 months, including key fundraising events. The Central Operations of the RFDS used the Qantas Foundation’s in-kind donation as part of its fundraising efforts at the “Wings for Life Ball” in Adelaide and the “Wilpena Under the Stars” black tie evening in the Flinders Ranges National Park, raising over $60,000. The Queensland section also raised $7,000 by offering donated Qantas flights as first prize in a Father’s Day Raffle at the Royal Queensland Show. The success of this fundraising has extended the value that the Qantas Foundation’s donation provides to the RFDS.
In addition to supporting the fundraising efforts of the RFDS, the in-kind donation has been used to transport RFDS staff and supporters to key RFDS events, such as the School’s Curriculum Pilot Workshop. The 23 pilot teachers that participated in this workshop were flown to Melbourne for a day’s briefing on the project, courtesy of the Qantas Foundation’s generation donation. The objective of the RFDS’ School Curriculum Project is to ensure that the work of the RFDS becomes part of the national curriculums of students in Grades 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 and that the RFDS remains a cornerstone of Australian history. Teachers and students will have their own printed workbooks and access to a dedicated website which will test, consolidate, extend and encourage students to develop their knowledge of the work of RFDS as far as they wish. The School’s Curriculum Project will be initiated in schools through school ambassadors and teachers, who will champion the project in their school.
The Qantas Foundation’s in-kind donation was also used to transport several RFDS donors and the Victorian Section Board Members to Western Australia for the launch of the Life Flight Jet – Australia’s first aeromedical jet service that can fly non-stop from any location in WA to Perth in approximately three hours and undertake interstate transfers without refuelling in most circumstances.
Executive Director of the South Eastern Section, Captain Clyde Thomson, was also transported to London to attend the AGM of the RFDS UK Friends – a UK branch of the Friends of the RFDS, which was formed in 2003 to mark the 75th anniversary of the first RFDS flight in 1928. This branch raises funds for aircraft replacement and has raised more than $3 million to date.
“The RFDS is very proud to be associated with the Qantas Foundation. The RFDS and Qantas go back to 1928, when Qantas undertook the very first flight for the RFDS, following a long relationship between Sir Hudson Fysh – a founder of Qantas, and Rev John Flynn – the founder of the RFDS. So it’s a long term relationship and we’re very proud to be associated with it,” said Nigel Milan CEO of RFDS National Office.
The future of the Qantas Foundation’s partnership with the RFDS is bright, we look forward to the opportunity to further develop and strengthen the partnership in the next 12 months.