In the 2025 Federal election, the RFDS is seeking commitment and investment to expand primary healthcare services to improve the health of rural, regional and remote Australians.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) is proud to have been providing critical health services to communities across rural and remote Australia for over 95 years. We know however there remain critical gaps in the provision of comprehensive healthcare services in rural and remote Australia resulting in significant need. Three initiatives to meet these needs are outlined in our 2025 Federal Policy Statement.
1. Providing RFDS primary healthcare services where there is unmet need:
- Expanding RFDS outreach services to increase locations and frequency
- Assuring the availability of GP services in at-risk locations
- Ensuring RFDS primary healthcare is funded independently of aeromedical retrievals
2. Investing in multi-disciplinary teams for more comprehensive care
- A dedicated RFDS multidisciplinary primary healthcare team in each state and territory to focus on comprehensive chronic disease management
3. Digital and virtual health initiatives to enhance care through reliable, hybrid models
- Progressing innovative and integrated digital and virtual healthcare initiatives such as a virtual emergency care centre already in operation and a telehealth pod model under development
The impact of inadequate primary healthcare services access on rural and remote Australians is significant:
- Australians living in rural and remote areas are likely to die up to 14 years earlier than those living in major cities, often from causes that are preventable;
- Rates of chronic and lifestyle diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and lung cancer are disproportionately higher;
- Rural and remote Australians are almost 3 times more likely to be hospitalised for reasons that are potentially preventable.
The RFDS has been providing healthcare services in partnership with the Australian Government since the 1930s, and seeks through these initiatives to further build on this partnership with our shared objective to ensure the health and wellbeing of rural, remote and regional Australians.
