The furthest corner. The finest care. 2017/18 Annual Report Royal Flying Doctor Service Central Operations In 2017/18, the Royal Flying Doctor Service assisted more people living in outback South Australia and the Northern Territory. 23% more primary health consultations by GP or Nurse 9% more primary evacuations of the critically-ill or injured 3% more patients consulted by a mental health clinician 3% more patients consulted by a Doctor over the telephone 9,777 5,587 7,928 143 Patients transported Remote Mental health Patients by aeromedical telehealth consultations transported by aircraft consultations road ambulance OUR COVER: Alice Springs Base perform the aeromedical retrieval of a young patient in Central Australia. 2 ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE | CENTRAL OPERATIONS 11,554 716 154 297 Face-to-face Immunisations RFDS Medical Residents trained primary health at remote clinics Chest holders in First Aid consultations in outback SA 2017/18 ANNUAL REPORT 3 OUR STORY > The Royal Flying Doctor Service has been saving lives in rural and remote Australia for 90 years. Using the latest in aviation, medical Today the RFDS delivers more than It operates four aeromedical bases and communications technology, the 300,000 patient contacts across in Adelaide, Alice Springs, Darwin RFDS delivers 24-hour emergency Australia every year – that’s one and Port Augusta, as well as three aeromedical and essential primary person every two minutes. remote primary health care facilities health care services to people who live, Services are delivered on a day-to-day in Andamooka, Marla and Marree in work and travel throughout Australia. basis by six RFDS operating sections outback South Australia. Established in 1928 by the Reverend – Central Operations, Western The RFDS is a not-for-profit John Flynn, the RFDS has grown into Operations, Queensland Section, organisation. While supported by the largest and most comprehensive South Eastern Section, Tasmania Commonwealth, State and Territory aeromedical organisation in the world. Section and Victoria Section. governments, the RFDS depends on Nationally, its vital services are delivered RFDS Central Operations began in bequests, fundraising and donations via a fleet of 69 aircraft, through the 1939 and delivers 24/7 emergency to bridge the gap in operational funding operation of 24 aeromedical bases aeromedical and essential primary and to finance its capital-raising and six remote primary health facilities health care services throughout South program for the replacement of aircraft, across the country. Australia and the Northern Territory. medical equipment and other major capital initiatives. Therese McCourt, General Practice Nurse, Port Augusta Base, with long-time RFDS patient Bobby Hunter, Birdsville Track. 4 ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE | CENTRAL OPERATIONS Our Vision > Our Mission > Our Values > A mantle of health Providing excellence › Care & Respect care services for in aeromedical and › Reliable & Dependable improving and saving primary health care › Safety & Quality lives in rural, remote across Australia. and regional Australia. › Socially & Ethically Responsible › Collaboration › Innovation 2017/18 ANNUAL REPORT 5 HIGHLIGHTS 2017/18 > Australia’s most reputable charity for seventh Avionics upgrade to PC-12 Legacy year in a row fleet aircraft 52,533 patient contacts Record-breaking ‘Wings for Life’ Gala Ball $14 million generated from fundraising & bequests OZ Minerals renews major sponsorship Elders Limited launches major sponsorship 4 5 8 10 12 14 16 Our Story Our Vision, Chairman’s CEO’s Report What We Do Where Case Study: Mission, Report We Work Another Big Values Day Out 6 ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE | CENTRAL OPERATIONS Mental Health Nurse joins Primary Health Care Service Introduction of AEDs to Medical Chests Construction of new Darwin Base Darwin Tourist Facility wins Brolga Award for excellence in tourism Primary Health Care Service gains GPEX accreditation S. Kidman & Co announced as our first jet sponsor 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 Our Footprint Our Activity Our Board & Our People Our Our Financial 2017/18 2017/18 Management Corporate Community Reports Partners Partners 2017/18 ANNUAL REPORT 7 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT > It gives me great pleasure to report that Last year I reported on our focus on On this success, we were excited to in 2017/18, RFDS Central Operations the re-structure and resourcing of showcase our Port Augusta Primary served more people living, working and our new fully-integrated service model Health Care Service to a delegation travelling in outback South Australia for contemporary primary health care from the Central Australian Health and the Northern Territory. delivered from our Port Augusta Base. Service to explore the potential Over the past year, our operational I can advise that this has been introduction of RFDS primary teams supported by our equally implemented and delivered with great health care services in the NT. dedicated administration staff success. We are in alignment with the This would further strengthen our have delivered: objectives of our Commonwealth and partnership with the Commonwealth, State Government stakeholders, new NT Government and NT Primary › 23% more primary health consultations at remote clinics; service-delivery partner, Country SA Health Network for whom we currently Primary Health Network, and, most deliver mental health support services › 9% more primary evacuations of all, meeting the health needs of throughout Central Australia. of the critically-ill or injured; remote communities. The construction and commencement › 3% more mental health consultations Chronic disease management has been of operations from our new Darwin in isolated communities; and one area of focus. With data captured Base, which was officially opened in ›› 3%›more›tele-health›consultations› on electronic medical records, our September, has fulfilled our strategic to›those›living›in›the›outback. diabetes patients receive a quarterly goal of providing the finest care I commend to you the case studies GP review in concert with tailored throughout the entire north-south published later in this report (pages health care plans and weekly support corridor of SA and NT. 16-35) depicting this growth and from a specialist diabetes educator in We now have our very own purpose- advancement in our service delivery key areas of blood sugar monitoring, built aeromedical facility that will as we take you on a journey with diet, exercise and lifestyle. It has improve comfort and care of our us through ‘a day in the life’ of the resulted in tangible and sustained patients inbound from Central Australia Flying Doctor. decreases in blood sugar levels of and the Kimberley, as well as provide patients to safer ranges which will a modern and safe workplace for our Consolidation of our best practice potentially save lives. primary health care service-delivery Darwin staff, guests and our NT Health model operated from our Port Augusta We are proud of our integrated service-delivery partners. Base, the benchmark aeromedical model which now fully connects GPs We now offer the NT Government performance at our Alice Springs Base, and our Community Health Nurses trusted and cost-effective options and the commencement of operations with our Remote Area Nurse clinics for partnered delivery of aeromedical, from our new Darwin Base have been at Andamooka, Marla and Marree, clinic charter and primary health care key drivers in this year’s growth in our ensuring that people living in the bush services in the Top End. patient activity. have access to primary health care which is equal, if not better, than their city counterparts. Primary evacuation of two injured motorists from William Creek, SA. 8 ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE | CENTRAL OPERATIONS “John Flynn’s enduring vision and unquenchable drive to improve access to essential health care services for people in the bush is ever-present in our organisational DNA.” The preparation of our Strategic Plan John’s passion and commitment to It has been another successful year for the next three years (2019-2021) meeting the needs of our patients has of fundraising and public advocacy. has been a key focus for our Board been second to none, balanced with We thank and acknowledge the and Executive Management team, his outstanding business acumen which expertise and dedication of our staff, with input from an extended number directed unprecedented growth and along with the selfless contribution of of frontline staff. financial security of the organisation. our volunteer Auxiliaries and Support Martin Laverty, RFDS Federation On behalf of the Board, past Groups, community fundraisers and our CEO, facilitated our strategic planning and present, we offer our sincere growing gallery of corporate partners. workshop, which resulted in the appreciation to John for his unwavering We all share the privilege as today’s confirmation that the five strategic guidance and support throughout his custodians of John Flynn’s vision. pillars of our existing plan remain three decades of service to the RFDS I continue to be so proud to be part relevant and will continue to underpin and, ultimately, the communities we of RFDS Central Operations, as we our next Strategic Plan: serve. celebrate another year of delivering › Service Delivery – optimising The year also marks the first trigger universal access to the finest patient outcomes; by governance reform adopted in emergency and primary health care › Our People – connecting people 2006 that prescribes a maximum to those