The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has welcomed a $15 million investment from the NSW Government that will help ensure people living in regional, rural and remote communities continue to have access to essential, life-saving healthcare services.
Announced as part of the 2026-27 NSW State Budget, the funding will enable the RFDS to continue delivering a broad range of services across New South Wales, including primary healthcare, dental and oral health services, mental health support, aeromedical retrievals, patient transport and clinician transport.
RFDS South Eastern Section CEO Greg Sam said the investment recognised both the importance of healthcare access in regional and remote communities and the Flying Doctor's unique ability to deliver it.
"Healthcare in remote NSW demands a different approach. The Flying Doctor was purpose-built for that challenge, combining aviation, healthcare and deep community connections to deliver care wherever it's needed.
"For nearly a century, we've developed the people, infrastructure and expertise needed to reach communities that would otherwise struggle to access care."
NSW Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said the investment would help ensure communities across the state continue to receive essential healthcare services.
"For almost a century, the Royal Flying Doctor Service have provided regional, remote and rural communities access to essential healthcare.
"I'm delighted to continue to support the Royal Flying Doctor Service through this $15 million contribution, ensuring this service remains in the air supporting communities in NSW where their services are most needed.
“This is no doubt an extraordinary service, connecting patients with a range of life changing medical care, across vast distances to some of the most remote parts of the state – whether that’s bringing patients to clinicians, or bringing clinicians out to patients.
"This funding boost will help communities across NSW access the healthcare they need, ensuring distance is never a barrier to receiving medical support."
Operating for 98 years, the RFDS has become one of Australia's most trusted healthcare organisations, delivering care to some of the state's most remote communities through a unique combination of aviation, healthcare and community partnerships.
Mr Sam said demand for services across regional, rural and remote New South Wales continues to grow.
"This investment will help ensure we can continue to meet the needs of the communities that rely on us.
"Every day, our teams overcome distance, geography and workforce challenges to bring healthcare to people where they live, work and raise their families.
"Whether it's a primary healthcare clinic, a mental health appointment, a dental visit, a patient transfer or an emergency retrieval, our focus is always on ensuring distance is not a barrier to care."
Mr Sam said the funding announcement follows years of tireless advocacy by the Member for Barwon, Roy Butler. Roy Butler’s unwavering support and commitment to rural and remote communities has helped shine a spotlight on the healthcare challenges they face.
I would also like to acknowledge the work of another of our local MPs, Dr Joe McGirr, Member for Wagga Wagga, for his deep commitment to the health and wellbeing of communities in rural and regional NSW.
“The RFDS is deeply grateful to both Roy and Dr Joe for their championing of better healthcare access for people living in rural and remote NSW, and the vital role the RFDS plays as a critical part of the health system”, said Mr Sam.
Roy Butler, Member for Barwon said: “We need to accept that the RFDS is an important arm of the state’s health system that extends health care into remote areas.
“For 90 years, the RFDS has relied mainly on private donations, but that is not sustainable with demand rising as people become older and sicker, while it becomes harder to recruit medical professionals.
“Secure state funding would acknowledge that remote people deserve healthcare too, that distance should not be a barrier to care, and that the RFDS is best placed to deliver it efficiently and effectively.
“I thank Health Minister Ryan Park for this funding and look forward to working with him on a sustainable funding stream for the RFDS in future,” said Mr Butler.
"This funding will help ensure that, again this year, we can keep delivering the care, safety, reliability and trust people have come to expect from us, while strengthening access to healthcare for communities across regional, rural and remote New South Wales." Mr Sam said.
"We take our obligation to delivering the finest care to the furthest corners seriously. The trust communities place in the Flying Doctor is something we never take for granted.”
