The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) stands ready to serve Western Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic and is building the 25% surge capacity expected to be required for the coming months.
BHP provided a $2 million donation which has led an industry funding commitment to the aeromedical charity and has leveraged funding from corporate peers for the essential regional service.
Fortescue Metals Group, Chevron, RFDS long-term corporate partners Rio Tinto and CBH Group, and Chamber of Minerals and Energy member companies have pledged further funding towards the estimated $15 million surge costs needed by the Flying Doctor for the next six months.
“We have been a trusted health care partner in Western Australia for more than 90 years. We are there to help a mate when they need us the most - and that time is now, in the coming weeks and the many months ahead,” Ms Tomkinson said.
“As a not for profit charity, providing an essential and life-saving service, we literally rely on the generosity of our funders to keep us in the air and we look forward to other Western Australian organisations contributing to the fund,” Ms Tomkinson said.
“We are incredibly grateful for the critical support from BHP which will assist us towards bolstering our service for the surge capacity we will need to respond across the regions.”
Tim Day, Acting Asset President BHP Western Australia Iron Ore said “BHP is committed to supporting the communities in which we operate, and beyond. This contribution to the RDFS is part of our $50 million Vital Resources Fund, which has been established to provide support to regional Western Australia during this difficult time. We will continue to look for ways for BHP to support regional communities as we work through this challenge together.”
The RFDS has today launched an appeal to support its COVID-19 funding effort.
The Response Ready for WA Appeal will enable the immediate bolstering of frontline people – doctors, nurses and pilots. Funds will also be invested in aircraft and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to serve regional communities across Western Australia, as well as provide the tools, equipment and consumable supplies for on-the-ground emergency response into the long term and shore up the ongoing sustainability of the aeromedical charity.
If you are in a position to do so and would like to support our response to COVID-19 in WA, please donate today.
