RFDS boosts state economy by $490m annually

THE Royal Flying Doctor Service provides more than $2.5bn in benefits to the Australian economy each year through its aeromedical services to regional, rural and remote Australians.

A recent study revealed the RFDS supports 4191 full-time equivalent jobs throughout Australia and boosts Gross Domestic Product by $623m each year.

In Queensland, where the organisation was first established in 1928, the RDFS supports 1056 FTE jobs, including 290 direct jobs, and boosts economic activity by $490m each year, which includes an injection of $132.5m into the Queensland economy.

The study was conducted by leading advisory firm BDO Services and was independently reviewed and endorsed by the Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation.

It examined the broad economic and social benefits that the service generates through its comprehensive range of healthcare services and analysed factors such as improved health outcomes for patients, increased productivity and overall cost savings to Australia’s health system.

RFDS Queensland CEO Meredith Staib said the report reconfirmed the Flying Doctor’s position as one of the largest aeromedical organisations in the world.

“This report demonstrates the immense value of the healthcare services we provide, as well as the far-reaching economic footprint of the Service,” Ms Staib said.

“The breadth of healthcare services we deliver across the country is seriously impressive,” she said.

“We have been saving lives in regional, rural and remote communities for more than 92 years and provide more than 370,000 episodes of patient care across Australia every year – equivalent to assisting someone every two minutes.”