SOUTH EASTERN SECTION Annual Report > 09/10 The Royal Flying Doctor Service delivers essential health care services to the people of rural, regional and remote Australia. We’re proud to be the lifeline to the bush, and we’re passionate about delivering health care to country communities. Our Mission > To provide excellence in aeromedical and primary health care across Australia. > RFDS Medical Officer Dr Elaine Powell at Hungerford on the NSW/QLD border where the Flying Doctor provides a monthly clinic. Contents > 3 Overview > 4 Highlights > 10 Services > 34 Financials > Message from Joint Patrons 2 Health Services 10 Corporate Governance 32 Highlights and Year in Review 4 Aviation and Engineering 22 Financial Reports 34 Message from the President 6 Our Bases 24 In Appreciation 56 Message from the Executive Director 7 Our People 26 Members’ Honour Roll 57 ANNUAL REPORT > 2009/10 1 Message from Joint Patrons > Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO and Sir Nicholas Shehadie AC OBE Sir Nicholas and I are pleased to have continued in our roles as Joint Patrons of the These visits presented Royal Flying Doctor Service (South Eastern Section) in 2009-10, an honour we have held since 2001. the opportunity to meet Over the past nine years, it has been wonderful to watch the role of the Flying Doctor with the dedicated staff of continue to grow with an increased focus on the provision of essential health care services to the people in rural, regional and remote areas. the RFDS and to see the In this year, Sir Nicholas and I have been indeed fortunate in seeing the work of the tangible difference that they Flying Doctor first hand on two occasions, the first during a visit to the Broken Hill Base make in helping people in and the second on a visit to Lightning Ridge and Grawin with the RFDS Rural Women’s GP, Dr Meg Higgins. remote communities. These visits presented the opportunity to meet with the dedicated staff of the RFDS and to see the tangible difference that they make in helping people in remote communities. From ensuring access to female GPs, to delivering mental health and dental services, and training the rural doctors of the future, the RFDS continues to achieve its mission of providing excellence in aeromedical and primary health care. First and foremost, the Flying Doctor is about the people: the patients in need of assistance, the inspirational staff who take care where need is greatest, and the many donors, supporters and members who provide assistance to keep this great Australian service flying. They are a source of considerable pride to our nation. Sir Nicholas and I extend our personal thanks to you all. Marie R Bashir AC CVO Sir Nicholas Shehadie AC OBE Governor of New South Wales 2 > SOUTH EASTERN SECTION Overview > When you think of the services to the people who live, work health education, essential health care, and travel in remote areas, but we also emergency retrievals and training for the Royal Flying Doctor do much, much more. next generation of rural doctors. Service, you no doubt The RFDS has grown to become the Our goal is to assist those in need most comprehensive aeromedical of emergency medical assistance, think of emergency organisation in the world, with flying while also improving access to health doctors, nurses, specialists and allied care services to ensure that many rescues and retrievals health professionals taking essential emergencies are prevented in the in remote outback health care services to country first place. communities. The Flying Doctor is now locations. the flying dentist, flying dietician and flying dermatologist service as well. Above: RFDS Dubbo team members: And that’s exactly how we started, 82 On any given day, our tireless team Engineer John Maljers, Flight Nurse years ago, with a vision of the late Rev. can be found performing GP clinics, Kerry Lee Hassan, Administration John Flynn to ensure all Australians had remote consultations, inter-hospital Officer Janelle Hobden, Flight Nurse access to emergency medical services. patient transfers, dental services and Christine Minchell, Pilot Tim Griffiths, Today, the Royal Flying Doctor Service mental health work. We also provide Senior Flight Nurse Karen Barlow and (RFDS) still provides emergency medical nursing and allied health services, Base Manager Helen O’Donnell. Five year financial trends > A$m 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Total Revenue Total Expenditure Surplus Total Assets Total Liabilities Total Equity 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 ANNUAL REPORT > 2009/10 3 The RFDS South Eastern Section in creased its focus on the provision of essential health care services in 2009-10, helping to take health care to where it is needed most: co untry communities. Highlights & Year in Review > 3 new Beechcraft King Air B200C aircraft now in service Dubbo Base refurbishment underway. 16,000 Medical centre visitors to Bruce Langford development complete, Visitors’ Centre visitors’ centre since opening nearing completion 21st annual Flying Doctor Outback Car Trek NSW Air Ambulance service contract retained at 6% Mascot Base Total patients treated up 6 per cent. Total number of clinics up 5 per cent 4 > SOUTH EASTERN SECTION The RFDS South Eastern Section in creased its focus on the provision of essential health care services in 2009-10, helping to take health care to where it is needed most: co untry communities. $9m 5.9m More than $9 million raised kilometres flown; the same through fundraising thanks as flying from Sydney to to donors and supporters Perth and back twice daily Number of emergency retrievals up 54% Launceston Base celebrates 50 year anniversary 78% of RFDS work focused on treating patients at clinics 50th & via remote consultations 3 Fly Around Clinics take health care services to approximately 550 people in 19 remote locations ANNUAL REPORT > 2009/10 5 Message from our President > On behalf of the Board of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (South Eastern Section), I am pleased to present our Annual Report for the 2009-10 financial year. This document not only sets out our health policy debate and to be involved of our founder, Rev. John Flynn. financial status, but it also gives us in the national strategic review of the Today, as technologies become more the opportunity to present some of the RFDS and in the setting of national sophisticated, we continue to seek and highlights and achievements of the policies and standards. use the best to narrow the gap between RFDS over the past year. At the national level negotiations have city and country patients in access to Our strategic direction has been one commenced for the renewal of the health care services. of growth, with an increased demand Commonwealth funding agreement As a resident of a remote community necessitating increased resources, with all RFDS operational sections myself, I know only too well the infrastructure and an expansion of contributing to an agreed costing model. challenges facing those who live in services. As the health needs of the We have also continued with our Board isolated and outback areas, and the people in country communities have renewal process and I would like to take importance of the Royal Flying Doctor continued to grow, so too have we, this opportunity to sincerely thank the Service in providing essential health care as outlined in the Executive Director’s four Board members who have retired services to the people in the bush. report. from their positions over the past year: On behalf of the Board of the RFDS A very important part of Board the Hon Peter McMahon AM, Geoffrey South Eastern Section, I would like discussions during the year has been Wise, David Honner and Dr Stuart Spring to thank all who make this possible, to evaluate the challenges we face for their wise counsel and contribution. particularly the dedicated staff under in coming years as health facilities in I would like to welcome to the Board the able and inspirational leadership of remote and rural areas continue to Professor Bruce Robinson MD MSc FRACP, Executive Director Clyde Thomson and diminish. The Board is acutely aware Dean of the Sydney Medical School at the senior management team. that from planning to implementation, the University of Sydney and Elizabeth I wish to thank all local members of improvements in RFDS services take Johnstone LLB MA(Hons) BA (Hons) FAIM, Parliament, State and Commonwealth, time and the bringing together of the former partner of law firm Blake Dawson. and the respective Ministers who we appropriate human, physical and Their appointments add to the expertise deal with for their understanding of the financial resources. on the Board as we continue to meet the issues we face and their support to As the President of the Board, it is my health needs of those who live and travel assist us. privilege to chair a very talented group of in rural and remote Australia. Most of all, I would like to thank the people from all parts of the community, The Board congratulates Board Directors wonderful donors and supporters who who together help steer the RFDS Mitty Davies and John Milhinch on remain committed to helping us take the South Eastern Section, ensuring the each receiving a Medal of the Order of finest care to the furthest corners. maintenance of our high standards and Australia (OAM) in the Queen’s birthday giving important regard to the future of honours last year. the Service. Historically, the RFDS has led the way The key priorities for the Board this in utilising new technology, aviation and year have been to ensure our corporate telecommunications to bring medical Joan Treweeke governance and financial reporting meet services to those in remote locations.