Since 1928, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has been a lifeline to people in regional, rural and remote areas, providing a renowned life-saving emergency aeromedical service, 24/7, 365 days a year.
Two years ago, when the pandemic hit Australia’s shores, your Flying Doctor made a promise to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in remote communities with limited access to health care.
To date, we have delivered more than 4,500 COVID-19 vaccinations to pastoralists and Indigenous communities across 40 locations in the Top End and Central Australia. Since the start of the year, we have distributed 80,000 rapid antigen testing (RAT) kits and safely airlifted 885 COVID-19 patients and close contacts from remote communities.
From the APY Lands to Kangaroo Island, throughout South Australia we have worked together with local health organisations to deliver more than more than 7,500 COVID-19 vaccinations to more than 30 communities and stations across the state and safely transported hundreds of COVID-19 patients and close contacts across the state.
On top of our COVID-19 response, we continue to airlift 100 Australians every day – 25 in South Australia and the Northern Territory alone – caring for patients with conditions such as major trauma, serious injury, heart attack, stroke or premature labour.
To maintain an up-to-date fleet of medically-equipped aircraft costs a lot of money – in fact, each replacement ‘flying intensive care unit’ costs more than $7 million. Our daily costs are greater than the government funding we receive, leaving a critical gap.
Over our rich 90-year history of saving lives, we have relied on the generosity of the community to keep our vital service running – ever since RFDS founder Reverend John Flynn’s very first appeal.
Today, you have the power to help keep your Flying Doctor flying into the future.
