The RFDS in QLD

In May 2020, the RFDS and Rio Tinto announced a new partnership to improve emergency and remotely delivered health care services across regional Queensland.

Under the partnership, Rio Tinto pledged $1.25 million to the Flying Doctor in Queensland over five years, underlining the company’s commitment to the health and wellbeing of Queenslanders and, at the time, providing resources to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This partnership added to Rio Tinto’s longstanding support of the Flying Doctor in Western Australia. Click here to find out more.

The RFDS (Queensland Section) and Rio Tinto worked together to improve the mental health knowledge of the Rio Tinto workforce in Cape York. This was achieved by ensuring Rio Tinto Weipa-based employees attended RFDS facilitated Mental Health and Wellbeing Awareness Training. The presentations inspired Rio Tinto Weipa employees to become advocates for positive mental health and wellbeing for themselves, their colleagues, family, friends as well as their wider community.  To read more, click here.

In 2020, the $1.25 million partnership was the first major investment announced in Queensland as part of a US$25 million commitment Rio Tinto has made to support communities around the globe during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery. The commitment took Rio Tinto’s total estimated voluntary global community contributions to around US$60 million.

In 2020, Rio Tinto also launched its ‘RioGivers’ Workplace Giving Program. The company matches every dollar their employees donate through their payroll to charities (including the RFDS). This enables their team members to donate to charity from their pre-tax income and the company to assist in doubling their impact to improve rural and remote Queensland health services.