NRW 2024 - Now More than Ever

Date published

27 May 2024

The #NRW2024 theme, Now More Than Ever, reminds us that now more than ever we need to finish the unfinished business of reconciliation.

At the RFDS we are committed to our reconciliation journey, guided by our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). We are nearing the end of our 2021-2024 RAP, and we are working hard to achieve all that we set out to do, whilst reflecting on what we can do better.

The RFDS recognise the strength and resilience shown by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures, and communities and express our gratitude to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, patients, partners and other stakeholders who share their knowledge with us as we continue to grow and learn on our reconciliation journey.

As a leading health service provider, we strive to improve access to culturally safe health services that will contribute to longer, healthier lives. We understand that there is still a long path ahead to achieve widespread reconciliation and to Close the Gap and efforts need to remain a focus of governments, policy makers, funders, service providers and all our partners.

Earlier this year, the RFDS released the Best for the Bush 2023 Health Baseline Report which shows that now more than ever we need to take a coordinated approach to work to Close the Gap. The report showed that:

There is a gap in life expectancy between Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous Australians, both male and female, which increases with increasing remoteness of communities.

The most recent data show the life expectancy of Indigenous males in remote and very remote Australia was 12.4 years lower than non-Indigenous males in the same areas.
Similarly, the life expectancy of Indigenous females in remote and very remote Australia was 12.5 years lower than non-Indigenous females in the same areas.

There is also a further gap in life expectancy and health outcomes amongst Indigenous people depending on where they live:

Life expectancy for Indigenous males living in remote and very remote areas was 5.2 years lower than that of Indigenous males living in major cities (67.3 years compared with 72.5 years).
The equivalent comparison for Indigenous females was 4.2 years lower (71.3 years compared with 76.5 years).

In 2022-23, the Royal Flying Doctor Service conducted 36,937 aeromedical retrievals, equivalent to 101 aeromedical retrievals per day, or four per hour. 26.9% of retrieval patients were Indigenous, reflecting the high proportion of Indigenous Australians living in rural and remote areas.
Indigenous Australians living in remote and very remote Australia (combined) were 2.3 times more likely to die from potentially avoidable deaths than Indigenous Australians living in major cities, and are significantly more likely to die from diabetes, lung disease, lung cancer, suicide and ischaemic heart disease.
The RFDS Service Planning Operational Tool (SPOT) shows that 109,706 Indigenous Australians in rural and remote areas, or 11.2% of the total Indigenous population, did not have access to an Aboriginal health service within a 60-minute drive time.

Now more than ever, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly those in rural and remote areas need access to appropriate healthcare services if they are to improve their health outcomes.

The RFDS recognise that it is through listening, learning, collaboration, and partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders that we can best contribute to Closing the Gap. It is well understood that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce delivers better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers, families, and communities.

This is why our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) highlights the significance of establishing and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and organisations and to “focus on genuine relationship development with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly peak bodies and community-controlled organisations that foster health and wellbeing in areas where our services are provided.”

The RFDS recognises that whilst there is a long way to go there has also been some good progress and meaningful partnerships leading to better outcomes.

Read our RAP Year in Review Document Here to learn more about some of the progress we made in 2023 and the priorities for 2024.

Read more about the RFDS Reconciliation Action Plan here which is the strategic framework that drives strong relationships, respect, and opportunities with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is our roadmap to embed reconciliation to become ‘business as usual’ in all areas of our organisation.

Read the RFDS Best for the Bush 2023 Health Baseline report which identifies the issues that most urgently need attention from service providers, funders and policy makers, while also making recommendations for the RFDS to pursue together with governments, industry, rural and remote communities.