The Royal Flying Doctor Service will receive $15 million from the NSW Government for the second year running, as the state works towards longer-term, secure funding for its remote healthcare work.
The funding, delivered through the 2026-27 State Budget, will help the RFDS continue delivering primary care, dental, mental health, retrieval and patient and clinician transport services across regional, rural and remote NSW.
It comes on top of existing NSW Government funding for services including the Rural Aerial Health Service, which flies clinicians to rural, regional and remote locations, inter-hospital transfers from the RFDS’s Dubbo and Broken Hill air bases, non-emergency patient transport, and its medical, oral health and drug and alcohol services in Far West NSW.
The RFDS has now been operating for 98 years and employs more than 390 staff in NSW.
Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said the funding would help keep the RFDS flying.
“For almost a century, the Royal Flying Doctor Service have provided regional, remote and rural communities access to essential healthcare,” Minister Park said.
“I’m delighted to continue to support the Royal Flying Doctor Service through this $15 million contribution, ensuring this service remains in the air supporting communities in NSW where their services are most needed.
“This funding boost will help communities across NSW access the healthcare they need, ensuring distance is never a barrier to receiving medical support.”
Member for Barwon Roy Butler, who has been pushing for longer-term, secure funding for the RFDS, said the service needed to be recognised as a core part of the state’s health system.
“We need to accept that the RFDS is an important arm of the state’s health system that extends health care into remote areas,” Mr Butler said.
“For 90 years, the RFDS has relied mainly on private donations, but that is not sustainable with demand rising as people become older and sicker, while it becomes harder to recruit medical professionals.
“Secure state funding would acknowledge that remote people deserve healthcare too, that distance should not be a barrier to care, and that the RFDS is best placed to deliver it efficiently and effectively.”
RFDS CEO South Eastern Section Greg Sam said the funding recognised the vital role played by the RFDS.
“The RFDS welcomes today’s $15 million funding announcement,” Mr Sam said.
“It once again recognises the important role the RFDS plays as part of the NSW Health system.
“Healthcare in remote NSW demands a different approach.”
“The Flying Doctor was purpose-built for that challenge, combining aviation, healthcare and deep community connections to deliver care wherever it’s needed,” he said.
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