Last Tuesday Applecross Rotary members Marianne Thompson, Chris Dawson, Jamie Kelly, Aaron Hoffman and Ray Philp accepted the invitation from Jeff Anderson from the Rotary E-Club of WA to join them on a visit to RFDS WA. The E-Club organise an annual fundraising event for the RFDS which gives them a priveleged tour of the RFDS operations at Jandakot airport.
In the vast and often unforgiving landscapes of Western Australia, where towns are separated by hundreds of kilometres and medical facilities can be few and far between, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) stands as a beacon of hope and health. For nearly a century, RFDS WA has been delivering critical aeromedical and primary health care services to remote and regional communities, and in 2025, its mission is more vital than ever. Also it is interesting to note that Rotnest Island requires a fair amount of their services with city holiday makers requiring medical attention for all sorts medical emergencies.
Our host for the tour was Larr Rose, Community Engagement Coordinator, who talked about the history of RFDS in front of the Jimmy Darcy sculpture.
We then moved to the aviation hangars where all of the RFDS fleet is serviced (in practice the standard is over servicing!). The aeromedical fleet comprises of -
- 17 Pilatus PC-12 Flying Intensive Care Units
- 3 Rio Tinto LifeFlight PC-24 jets
- 2 Fortescue Heli-Med Service EC145 helicopters
In the last year 9465 patients were retrieved, 8,560,000 kilometres were flown and they had 16,375 landings.
They have a team of nearly 400 doctors, flight nurses, pilots, engineers, logisticians, administrative and corporate staff.
This year marks the continuation of RFDS WA’s ambitious 2024–2028 Strategy, aptly titled Above & Beyond. The strategy is designed to expand the organisation’s reach and impact as it approaches its centenary in 2028. Key initiatives include:
- Nine new aircraft to renew and grow the fleet.
- The southern hemisphere’s first Pilatus PC-12 flight simulator, arriving at Jandakot HQ to enhance pilot training and reduce operational costs.
- The opening of RFDS WA’s first permanent health clinic in Kalgoorlie, in partnership with Curtin University and WA Country Health Service
These developments reflect RFDS WA’s commitment to innovation, safety, and community partnership, ensuring that even the most isolated Western Australians have access to high-quality care.
RFDS WA’s success is built on partnerships—with government, corporate sponsors like CBH Group, and everyday Western Australians who donate, volunteer, and advocate.
We can support RFDS WA by donating, fundraising, or simply spreading awareness. Every contribution helps keep the Flying Doctor in the air and ready to respond—whether it’s a premature birth in Fitzroy Crossing or a cardiac emergency in Cable Beach.
And the amazing thing is that there isn't any cost to the people using their services.
