The RFDS in VIC
Environmental Sustainability
RFDS Victoria’s DNA is embedded in rural and remote communities across the state. We understand the challenges faced by individuals and communities.
Our staff and volunteers live and work in regional Victoria. We have seen the impact of heatwaves, fires, droughts and floods, occurring all too often for people already doing it tough.
We are committed to being an environmentally sustainable and climate resilient organisation, because we know driving positive change for a healthy planet will mean better health and wellbeing outcomes for the communities we serve.
What We Are Already Doing
Our people have seen the devastating impacts of climate-fuelled extreme weather events and are there to support rural and regional communities to adapt.
Our mental health services are helping affected individuals to recover from the devastating Black Summer bushfires as well as supporting workers in impacted industries (such as native timber logging) with the economic transition underway. During the 2022 floods, we helped evacuate aged care residents and hospital patients in Rochester by leveraging the capabilities of our community transport program, including a local cohort of trained volunteer drivers.
So we can take a coordinated, whole-of-organisation approach to RFDS Victoria's sustainability ambitions, we have also developed an Environmental Roadmap. This will keep us accountable to our goal of decreasing our own environmental footprint as well as preparing ourselves and the communities we support for the impacts of climate change.
Our Priorities
Three priorities are central to this Roadmap: reducing our emissions, decreasing waste to landfill and preparing for climate change impacts. This is where we believe we can have the greatest environmental impact.
It will take sustained effort from across the organisation to implement our activity plan. Leadership commitment, team engagement, sustainability data, and stakeholder partnerships will enable our three priority areas to reach their full potential.
The Case for Change
In 2021, the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated “climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity”, affecting “the social and environmental determinants of health – clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure shelter."
The regional and remote Victorian community have already experienced these consequences from extreme weather events. If we don’t take meaningful action against climate change, our work will only get harder.
