The Wire

The Royal Flying Doctors Service is now in its 80th year in Australia, helping over 200,000 people a year in rural areas, and flying nearly 22 million kilometres to do so. But in Western Australia, the government doesn’t appear willing to support the service…their latest funding falling 28 million short of the minimum 68 million required. The Rural Doctors Association of Western Australia has accused the government of being too ‘city-centric’, and under-estimating the necessity of the service for remote and rural parts of Australia. The Wire spoke with President of the association, Rob Whitehead, who explained why the service is so crucial.