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The NSW Government is injecting $15 million into the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).
Part of the 2026-27 State Budget, the funding will support RFDS operations across regional, rural and remote parts of NSW, including primary care, dental, mental health, retrieval services and patient and clinician transport.
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“For almost a century, the Royal Flying Doctor Service have provided regional, remote and rural communities access to essential healthcare,” said Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park.
“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.”
The RFDS has welcomed the funding, with Greg Sam, CEO Royal Flying Doctor Service (South Eastern Section), saying 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.
“For nearly a century, we’ve developed the people, infrastructure and expertise needed to reach communities that would otherwise struggle to access care.
“This funding will help ensure that, again this year, we can keep delivering the care, safety, reliability and trust people have come to expect from us, while strengthening access to healthcare for communities across regional, rural and remote New South Wales.”
RFDS has operated for 98 years, and Member for Barwon Roy Butler said it remains “an important arm of the state’s health system that extends health care into remote areas”.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
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