Every day across rural and remote Australia, women face unique challenges accessing healthcare. As Australia marks International Women’s Day, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (South Eastern Section) reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that women in the outback have access to quality healthcare, regardless of their location.
While city residents can often find a GP or specialist appointment nearby, might contend with long wait times, financial barriers and scheduling difficulties, women in the outback often have to confront further challenges: long travel distances and unpredictable weather events that can turn routine appointments into all-day journeys, limited local services for women's specific health needs, and the difficult balance of family and work responsibilities made all the more challenging by the nature of life in the bush. These challenges can lead to delayed care and poorer health outcomes for many people in the communities we serve.
Women make up approximately half of all patients served by the RFDS. Our “Best for the Bush” report from 2023 revealed that women in very remote areas are likely to die up to 16 years earlier than their city counterparts. Furthermore, the report also identifies that potentially preventable hospitalisations are 1.8 times higher for people in remote areas such as Broken Hill and Lightning Ridge, and 2.8 times higher in very remote areas such as Wilcannia, Louth and Wanaaring.
To counteract the factors influencing these statistics, RFDS provides a comprehensive network of healthcare services designed to reduce preventable hospitalisation, delivered by healthcare professionals who understand the unique challenges of rural and remote life.
"Gender equity in rural and remote healthcare is not just about fairness—it’s also about ensuring we have the best and brightest delivering care where it’s needed most. When women are empowered in health leadership, communities benefit, and at RFDS, we are proud to celebrate the incredible women who contribute to our mission of delivering world-class healthcare to rural and remote communities."
RFDS Chief Medical Officer, Shannon Nott
To overcome the barrier of extensive travel, RFDS GP clinics bring doctors directly to local communities, providing everything from preventative screenings to chronic disease management.
In Western NSW, these services are complemented by monthly nurse-led clinics at rotating locations throughout the region, offering longer appointments that focus on holistic care.
"Nurse-led clinics give us the opportunity to dig a little bit further to find out how our patients are really going, and if there are any underlying risks to their health," explains Primary Care Nurse Kerri Rothery, "it's about prevention and early detection to help our regional families live healthy lives and keep them in the bush."
For women with complex health needs, the challenges can be particularly acute. "Conditions like endometriosis, postnatal depression and even routine pregnancy care can become much harder to manage when the nearest specialist is hours away," says Kerri. "We help women navigate the complex healthcare system, coordinating appointments with specialists and ensuring continuity of care across vast distances. This approach allows women to access the specialised care they need without having to relocate from their communities.
For Pimpara Lake Station resident and former RFDSSE Chair, Ruth Sandow, a diagnosis of breast cancer highlighted just how challenging access to care can be,
"When you're 700 kilometres away from an oncologist, a radiotherapy unit, and surgery – all those things that aren’t quite as challenging for people living in the cities – you rely heavily on the RFDS."
Beyond physical health, the RFDS provides vital mental health support for remote communities where services can be limited or non-existent.
Our mental health professionals deliver a range of services including counselling, social and emotional wellbeing support, and mental health care for women experiencing anxiety, depression, or navigating the challenges of new motherhood far from traditional support networks. For families, we offer play therapy for children which provides early intervention that helps the whole family thrive.
Our goal is to provide care in a way that enables women and families to remain in the bush without healthcare becoming a burden," Kerri emphasises. "When healthcare is accessible, women are more likely to prioritise their own wellbeing alongside their many other responsibilities.
This International Women's Day, the RFDS South Eastern Section celebrates the strength and resilience of women across rural and remote Australia while reaffirming our commitment to healthcare equity in the bush.
By bringing quality healthcare directly to women in their communities, we're not just providing medical services; we're working to ensure that a woman's postcode doesn’t determine her health outcomes or life expectancy. The RFDS remains committed to continuing this vital work to support women and families in the bush.
