Due to the increased transport costs and difficulty associated in centralizing resources, delivery to emergency services to rural and remote people will be much more expensive than metropolitan health care, if it is to be of the same caliber. The RFDS owns 61 planes, yet travel time is still 11 times higher than those travelling to emergency via metropolitan road ambulance1,2.
The RFDS financial program is complex but designed to allow for long term delivery of services while building infrastructure for furth.er development, such as extension of the Women’s Rural GP service till 2015 and development of the Remote Area Visual Electronic Network (RAVEN) through a $32,000 donation from Verve Energy2,3. Despite the RFDS being seven separate legal entities (divided by area) which have financial and operational independance, finances are recorded and reported to stakeholders and the Commonwealth Government by the RFDS National Board4.
Annual reports suggest the RFDS budget is healthy; a total comprehnsive income in 2012 of $63,144 saw a huge skyrocket to $1,836,923 in 2013 through a forward exchange contract worth $1.6m3. However, government grants and fundraising needs to be maintained due to huge outgoing costs, in addition to a 26% increase in primary evacutions and 20% increase in flying hours from 2006-20133. This includes3
– $4.33m to suppliers and employees
– $205,440 to pay for property and equipment
– $4.43m disbursed for RFDS projects
The RFDS is primarily funded by the government (45% states and territories, 25% commonwealth), but 17% of funding is from fundraising, and 13% from other sources. Major donors include Verve Energy, Chevron, QANTAS Foundation, QANTAS Holidays, Oris and Galleria Toyota5
In addition to corporate funding, the RFDS has a strong fundraising program, including many popular social events. Impressive examples of compassionate groups and individuals raising funds include2
– The extremely popular Flying Doctor Ball.
– 66 year old grandmother Ann Mcleish who walked from Narrogin to Perth to raise funds.
– Over $20,000 raised by the Carnarvon Lions Club in a Postie Bike Challenge, covering 1550km between Carnarvon and Meekatharra. The Toodyay Lions Club raised over $70,000 travelling 2400km.
– Exmouth Jumble Charity Group has donated more than $158,000 over 14 years in cooperation with Exmouth op shop ‘The Shed’.
– Stockbrands Co. donates $5 for each feral cat or fox shot during biannual Foxbrands Community Foxshoot Weekends across rural WA – donating $101,000 in total so far.6
If you are ever given the opportunity to participate in an RFDS event, personal experience would push myself to strongly recommend it (I’ve had great fun at RFDS fundraisers at the beautiful Quobba Station in the past). Not only are they entertaining, but full of individuals who want to see improvement in health access in their own community.
Donations to the RFDS can be received through the following link; http://supportus.flyingdoctor.org.au/donate/
References:
1. Royal Flying Doctor Service (AU). Aeromedical & retrieval [Internet]. 2012. Available from: http://healthprofessionals.flyingdoctor.org.au/aeromedical–retrieval/
2. Royal Flying Doctor Service Western Operations. RFDS the key to survival. The Flying Doctor. 2011 Sept.
3. 12/13 Annual Report. Royal Flying Doctor Service National Office; 2013 July.
4. Royal Flying Doctor Service (AU). Organisation structure [Internet]. 2014. Available from: http://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/About-Us/Organisation-Structure/
5. Royal Flying Doctor Service (AU). Our partnerships [Internet]. 2014. Available from: http://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/About-Us/Our-Partnerships/
6. Red Card (AU). Red card for rabbits & foxes [Internet]. [Cited 2014 Apr 2]. Available from: http://www.redcard.net.au/
7. Royal Flying Doctor Service Flickr (AU). RFDS ball 2012 (152) [Internet]. [Cited 2014 Apr 3]. Available from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/royalflyingdoctorservice/7821779328/
Emergency Medical Care Access in Rural Australia 