ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE | 2013/14 ANNUAL REPORT ANNUAL SERVICE | 2013/14 DOCTOR FLYING ROYAL More than a How you can help > flying doctor Whilst the Royal Flying Doctor Service receives Wide-ranging health some support from Commonwealth, State services for rural and and Territory governments, we rely heavily on remote Australia fundraising and donations from the community to purchase and medically equip our aircraft and to support other health initiatives. > Send a cheque (made payable to the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia) to: RFDS National Office Level 8, 15–17 Young Street Sydney NSW 2000 > Phone us on 02 8259 8100 or 1800 467 435 > Visit flyingdoctor.org.au to make an online donation flyingdoctor.org.au facebook.com/royalflyingdoctorservice @RoyalFlyingDoc Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia Federation Office Level 8, 15–17 Young Street Sydney NSW 2000 T 02 8259 8100 F 02 9247 3351 W www.flyingdoctor.org.au Annual Report 2013/14 FEDERATION OFFICE ABN 74 438 059 643 FEDERATION OFFICE CONTENTS > OUR MISSION > The Year’s Highlights 2 Chair & CEO’s Reports 5 To provide excellence Facts at a glance 7 in aeromedical and National reach 8 Our Board 26 primary health care Governance 27 across Australia. Financial Reports 28 Statistics 52 Our supporters 60 On average the RFDS holds 44 health care clinics every day. Cover: RFDS water-safety program at Barenya Station Queensland. Image courtesy of Mick Wilcomes. It takes a full range of accessible health services to address the health care gap in rural and remote Australia. So much more than a Flying Doctor, the RFDS has expanded its range of clinic services to advance the long-term health of people in the bush. In 2013/14, we delivered 16,096 health clinics treating over 145,000 patients – in addition to our aeromedical retrieval service. During the same period, demand for Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) aeromedical services grew by 5.9%. While delivering wide-ranging health services, the RFDS continued to establish eciencies in operations, transparency in reporting and working towards sustainable funding for our vital services. It’s all part of our mission: to provide excellence in aeromedical and primary health care across Australia. 2013/14 ANNUAL REPORT 1 THE YEAR’S HIGHLIGHTS > 16,096 Clinics conducted Patient contacts made at RFDS clinics, aeromedical transports and telehealth consultations 282,000 We launched the first RFDS national digital campaign Buy the Sky 26,410,611 km flown by our fleet of 63 aircraft 2 ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE | FEDERATION OFFICE Patients used our telehealth services 82,305 2013/14 An independent report into RFDS Traditional Services shows demand is being met in a seamless manner, as RFDS resources are eciently deployed to cope with the demands of 24/7 availability Increase in patients seen by our dental programs in 2013/14 Patients transported 42% 54,705 2013/14 ANNUAL REPORT 3 Scene at Mt Ive Station, South Australia. 4 ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE | FEDERATION OFFICE CHAIR’S REPORT Increasing awareness of health issues in the bush > The Flying Doctor is an iconic Australian not-for-profit organisation that is essential to life in the bush. I was delighted Amanda Vanstone Chair to be appointed Chair of the Royal Flying Doctor Service National Board in July 2013. I would like to begin by thanking In March the National Board gathered Michael Reid, for his role as Acting in Canberra and hosted a breakfast Chairman of the National Board. I event for members of parliament would also like to farewell and thank whose constituents rely on Flying Mark Grey, RFDS Queensland Section Doctor services. The room was full of Board Director; and Greg Rochford, the guests, which gave the Board an ideal RFDS National CEO. Their dedicated opportunity to discuss the breadth of contribution to the work of the Flying health services that the Flying Doctor Doctor has been outstanding. now provides to over 145,300 patients every year. This year we have welcomed Bill Mellor to the National Board as our new We are also particularly proud of the Director from RFDS Queensland RFDS’s first national digital awareness Section and in August 2014 our new and fundraising campaign, Buy the Sky. RFDS National CEO, Martin Laverty. Launched in October 2013, the campaign is already building our brand Martin joins us after six years as CEO and increasing awareness of health of Catholic Health Australia, where he issues in the bush – especially among built a strong background in health, and younger Australian city dwellers. It’s an social service delivery and advocacy. exciting opportunity to engage a new He was born and raised in rural generation of supporters, and ensure Australia, has trained as a lawyer, and our services are supported well into studied for a PhD in not-for-profit health the future. governance – and we’re excited to have him on board. Finally, I would like to thank the National Board, Section and Operation Boards and RFDS staff around the country for their outstanding performance in 2013/14. We couldn’t do it without you. Amanda Vanstone Chair 2013/14 ANNUAL REPORT 5 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT Maintaining long-term health in rural and remote Australia > The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that type 2 diabetes prevalence is 3.7 times higher in remote Australia Martin Laverty Chief Executive Officer than in cities. The National Heart Foundation reports that cardiovascular disease prevalence in rural areas is 25% higher than it is in cities. Pick an area of chronic disease, and you will likely find that people living in country Australia do not enjoy the same health outcomes as people living in cities. It is with this in mind that I joined the Royal Flying Doctor Service Federation Sustainable funding More than a Flying Doctor Office as CEO, in August 2014, with a Our focus on sustainable funding We know it’s not enough to fly patients strong commitment to delivering better matches the growing demand for our to hospital when they reach a critical health outcomes for country Australia. services. Since 2006/07, RFDS has health event. In order to truly make a Better health outcomes will in part be seen a 30% increase in demand for its difference to the long-term health of achieved by ensuring health services Commonwealth ‘traditional services’. people in the bush, we want to prevent can be easily accessed, even by those At the beginning of 2014, the provision these issues from occurring in the first who live in Australia’s furthest corner. of an additional $6 million in funding place. That’s why the Flying Doctor Importantly, better health outcomes allocated to the RFDS in the 2014 now provides a comprehensive range are also dependent on preventing ill Federal Budget ensured service levels of preventative health care services, health and injury from occurring by were maintained. The RFDS is grateful including mental health, dental health applying what we know about social to the Commonwealth for its continuing and chronic disease prevention determinants and chronic disease investment and support in enabling the and management. prevention. These complementary RFDS to deliver health care services to factors will inform the work of the RFDS Our big-picture view also includes parts of country Australia. Federation Company in the months and comprehensive programs, such as years ahead. One of the ways in which we are water safety for children in remote helping to facilitate transparency in communities. It recognises that many I’m pleased to start my tenure by activity-reporting to our Commonwealth factors contribute to health – be it celebrating RFDS’s achievements over funder was to undertake an social, economic or geographical. the last year. These results have set independent review of the RFDS a strong foundation in our mission to Cost Model for use in future funding meet the health challenges that face arrangements. The Review found the outback Australia. architecture of the system was solid and a proposed series of modifications to enhance cost transparency were adopted. 6 ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE | FEDERATION OFFICE FACTS AT A GLANCE Service area covered… 7,150,000km2 For the year ended Daily Independent review 30 June 2014 Average Year In order to develop efficiently, we put Patient Contacts 773 282,000 (1) our traditional services through an Patient Transports 149 54,705 (2) operational review, which was carried out by ORH Limited in December Health Care Clinics 44 16,096 2013. The review found that our Distance Flown (kms) 72,358 26,410,611 Sections met PE and IHT demand in a Number of Landings 206 75,314 seamless manner, and concluded that Telehealth 398 82,305 our resources were being efficiently deployed to cope with the demands for Number of Aircraft 63 (3) 24/7 availability. Royal Flying Doctor Service Bases 22 (4) Staff Numbers (Headcount) 1,144 I look forward to receiving the final report on the non-traditional primary Staff FTE (Full-time Equivalent) 978 health services review, which was undertaken in August 2014. (1) Includes patients at clinics, patients transported, and telehealth (2) Includes primary evacuations, inter-hospital transfers, patients transported from a clinic, and repatriations Supportive community (3) Does not include aircraft which will be decommissioned in 2013/14 I’m aware that our ability to deliver (4) A Royal Flying Doctor Service Base is a health facility that houses the highest -quality care is only made an aircraft and provides health services possible through the support of others. It has been a privilege to see the dedicated support we receive – from everyday Australians, corporate organisations, and our service delivery Fundraising 15% partners – in action.