Community & Business
31 May, 2026
NSW Country Mayors back the Royal Flying Doctor Service
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) received unanimous support from the Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) members at their recent General Meeting, which took place in NSW Parliament House.
“This is an iconic service that has been part of outback Australia’s cultural identity for 90 years, with anniversary celebrations held at the Broken Hill base on the weekend. They save lives and continued quality of life, where no other service could. They provide a critical service to rural and remote communities,” CMA Chairman, Mayor Rick Firman OAM, of Temora Shire Council said.
“Funding for the RFDS should be secure, allowing for medium to long-term planning. They should not need to expend resources perpetually marketing their case for funding,” he said.
The RFDS currently operates across more than 80 rural and remote communities, providing healthcare access to approximately 1.8 million residents. In many of these areas, the RFDS is the only available healthcare provider, delivering services including aeromedical retrievals, patient transfers, primary healthcare, mental health support and dental care.
Rural and remote communities continue to experience significant disadvantage, particularly in relation to access to healthcare services and health outcomes. Across Western NSW, mortality rates are substantially higher than the state average, including 27% higher for heart disease, 46% higher for diabetes, and 75% higher for chronic lung disease. Hospitalisation rates are also elevated, reflecting the ongoing challenges faced by regional communities in accessing timely and appropriate healthcare.
RFDS NSW/ACT CEO Greg Sam delivered a presentation at the CMA’s May meeting, which began with a compelling video showcasing the breadth and reach of the RFDS's work across vast distances and challenging terrain and conditions across rural and remote NSW. “The video offered a vivid and at times moving illustration of the profound and life-changing outcomes the Flying Doctor Service delivers for rural and remote Australians — many of whom have no other access to emergency or specialist healthcare,” Mayor Firman said. “For those who rely on this safety net, it is priceless.”
Mr Sam then detailed the RFDS’s contribution to the social, economic and health sustainability of regional, rural and remote communities, focusing on the RFDS's significant investment in skills development, training and workforce retention — themes that resonated strongly with the broader focus of the day's meeting on skills and workforce challenges. Members heard how the RFDS functions not merely as a healthcare provider but as an anchor institution in many communities, helping build and retain local capacity over the long term.
A particular point of discussion was the composition of the RFDS workforce, with members reflecting on the significance of the fact that two-thirds of RFDS staff are embedded in the rural and remote communities they serve. “This model of community-based service delivery was widely accepted as a strength that distinguishes the RFDS and amplifies its contribution to local economies and the social fabric of our communities – well beyond direct patient care,” Mr Sam said.
“On behalf of the CMA Board and members, I have written to our Premier, The Hon Chris Minns MP and our NSW Regional Health Minister, The Hon Ryan Park MP to express our strong and unanimous support for the RFDS,” Mayor Firman said.
