RFDS WA 2024 - 2028 Strategy, Above and Beyond

RFDS WA Strategy 2024 – 2028

A healthy future for regional Western Australia

DEDICATION

Our 2024 - 2028 Strategy is dedicated to Western Australians. Those who know red dirt, who breathe sea air and who harvest golden paddocks. Everything we have done and will do is for you.

Royal Flying Doctor Service Western Australia

Retrieved from Leonora 2022.

HEALTH IS NOT EQUAL IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

A growing body of evidence makes it clear that country communities are more likely to experience poor health compared with people in metropolitan areas.

The RFDS WA Strategy 2024-2028 strives to make a practical and positive difference to the health of people living and working in regional Western Australia.

13x

more likely to die prematurely from diabetes

4 to 5x

more likely to die from suicide or selfinflicted injuries

4x

more likely to present to an Emergency Department for mental health-related conditions

4.2x

more likely to die from respiratory illness (e.g. pneumonia, COVID-19, cancers)

38% of adults are obese, the highest rate in WA

Data taken from:

Public Health Information Development Unit (PHIDU) Torrens University Australia. Social Health Atlases, Maps, Population Health Areas 2023.

WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA). Country WA PHN Needs Assessment 2022–2024.

Royal Flying Doctor Service WA, FY2022-23 Retrieval Data

*Comparative data benchmarked against the Australian average unless stated otherwise.

32% of RFDS retrievals are due to cardiovascular disease (e.g. heart attack or stroke)

Kimberley

4 to 5x

more likely to die from suicide or self-inflicted injuries

Almost 50% of adults at high risk of long-term harm from alcohol consumption 50% less full-time GPs compared to the WA average

1 in 4 adults have high blood pressure

8 people per week require aeromedical retrieval for acute mental and behavioural disorders

Goldfields–

Esperance

Great Southern

More than 1 in 3 RFDS patients are Aboriginal people & 16% are children less than 16 years

Kununurra

Carnarvon

Meekatharra

Bunbury

South Hedland

Pilbara

Leonora

Halls Creek

Derby

Sheylena With Primary Health Care Nurse Lisa at the RFDS Yakanarra Clinic.

STRATEGY SNAPSHOT

The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Western Australia’s sights are on a healthy future for people in regional WA in our 2024-2028 Strategy.

Our five Focus Areas commit us to rolling up our sleeves in partnership with the WA Country Health Service (WACHS), Commonwealth Government, St John WA and the many organisations and supporters with whom we work to provide the finest care to the furthest corners of WA.

The RFDS will remain true to its heritage, focusing on innovation, safety, curiosity and a strong sense of community to drive us towards our 100-year anniversary in 2028.

This Strategy will deliver benefits including more everyday health care services in remote communities, research translated into practice for the benefit of patients, greater advocacy on key issues affecting regional Western Australians, new innovations in our flagship aeromedical service, and our first environmental sustainability plan.

At the core of this Strategy are three key principles: innovation, partnership, and safety. Every decision and action will be made and evaluated according to these principles.

FOCUS AREAS

EXCELLENCE IN AEROMEDICAL SERVICES

ENHANCE OUR TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEMS

Retrieved by the RFDS multiple times from Kununurra.

Raised over $300 selling rocks at the local markets.

Archie

GOALS PURPOSE

WHERE WE WILL FOCUSWHY IT

MATTERS

FOCUS AREA

1: EXCELLENCE IN AEROMEDICAL SERVICES

Annual statistics prove the demand for aeromedical services continues to grow, with more than 10,000 patient retrievals in 2023.

As WA’s primary aeromedical service, we are committed to being there whenever patients and the WA Health network need us.

We must continuously improve our flagship aeromedical service through greater efficiency, technology and strong connections throughout the WA Health network to maintain excellence.

OBJECTIVESINITIATIVES

WHAT WE WILL DO

HOW WE WILL GET THERE

Protect and strengthen our flagship aeromedical service in WA.

Strengthen relationships and collaborations with service partners.

• Purchase new aircraft to replace assets and expand the fleet.

• Plan and build the RFDS Operations Centre of the future.

• Optimise the RFDS Fortescue Heli-Med Service for the benefit of WA patients.

• Manage a smooth transition into a new contract with WACHS that is in the best interests of patients, provides value for money for Western Australians and sustains the RFDS as a leader in aeromedical care.

• Establish a strategy to engage and collaborate with stakeholders across the health system.

Improve how we measure our performance and identify trends, opportunities and areas for improvement.

• Implement new performance measures, dashboards and reporting.

• Evaluate the impact of the Rio Tinto LifeFlight Jets to demonstrate the value of this innovation in our fleet.

• Evaluate the RFDS Fortescue HeliMed Service to assess its impact and plan for the future.

Patient at the RFDS Yakanarra Clinic.

Levina

GOALS PURPOSE OBJECTIVESINITIATIVES

WHERE WE WILL FOCUSWHY IT MATTERS

FOCUS AREA

2: EXPAND SERVICES FOR A BIGGER COMMUNITY IMPACT

Research from around Australia, including RFDS’s Best for the Bush research reports, highlight something we already know through our everyday work: it’s not easy to access comprehensive primary health care in the bush.

The reports show a significant portion of RFDS retrievals are for preventable illnesses, indicating patients have found it difficult to get the health care they need before their condition becomes an emergency.

As an organisation whose overarching mission is to provide the finest care to the furthest corner, we must play a role in improving health equity for the communities we serve.

WHAT WE WILL DO HOW WE WILL GET THERE

Scale up our ‘profit for purpose’ commercial services to increase our impact where it’s needed and direct those profits back into meeting the needs of regional communities.

Expand meaningful primary health care to help people manage their health within their communities; including preventative health care and health promotion.

Establish a research arm for the RFDS to better understand need, shape our service and boost our impact.

• Develop a commercial/resource sector value proposition.

Be an advocate for health issues affecting people in regional WA.

• Set up, scale and expand primary health care services.

• Develop multidisciplinary research capabilities.

• Establish a GP Clinic in Kalgoorlie in a University Department of Rural Health partnership with Curtin University and WACHS.

• Establish an advocacy program.

Beth Retrieval Nurse in Kalgoorlie.

WHERE WE WILL FOCUS GOALS

FOCUS AREA

3: A SUSTAINABLE AND HIGH QUALITY WORKFORCE

PURPOSE

OBJECTIVESINITIATIVES

WHY IT MATTERS WHAT WE WILL DO HOW WE WILL GET THERE

Our organisation relies on dedicated people with an incredibly unique combination of expertise and experience.

We must ensure our people have the capability to succeed if we are to provide the finest care to the communities we serve.

Optimise how we use the extensive skills and capabilities of the RFDS team to help us achieve our potential.

A positive, productive and inclusive workplace culture that enhances workforce satisfaction, engagement and overall performance.

• A clear framework of competencies that covers every role at the RFDS.

• Enhance a ‘grow our own’ approach to providing strong career pathways and professional development opportunities for existing employees.

• Deliver culture transformation initiatives and track our progress.

• Explore potential options for a shared workforce in consultation with our key partners.

Define how the organisation is unique, what it stands for and the reasons why our people are proud to work here.

This will help attract top talent and foster engagement, loyalty and retention.

New and improved employment pathways and opportunities, including for emerging leaders, graduates and people based in regional WA.

• Develop an Employee Value Proposition.

• Create new partnerships with universities and other education and training institutions.

• Enhance employment pathways and recruitment campaigns.

• Develop formal trainee, apprenticeship and graduate programs.

With a patient in an RFDS aircraft.

GOALS PURPOSE

WHERE WE WILL FOCUSWHY IT MATTERS

AREA

4: ENHANCE OUR TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEMS

OBJECTIVESINITIATIVES

WHAT WE WILL DO HOW WE WILL GET THERE FOCUS

Our organisation relies on effective performance to deliver safe and cost-effective care.

For our teams to do the best job they can, they need access to modern tools and systems

Improving technology and systems will unlock opportunities for our people and services to succeed and grow.

Push ahead with our Digital Innovation Strategy.

Track our own performance to strengthen decision-making.

Make further improvements to governance to achieve greater transparency and efficiency.

• Prioritise and deliver Digital Innovation Strategy to meet strategic and contractual expectations.

• Boost strategic execution and reporting capabilities.

• Refresh corporate governance, organisational and performance management systems.

Bella

Retrieved from Brookton in 2022.

WHERE WE WILL FOCUS

FOCUS AREA

5: BUILD A SUSTAINABLE ORGANISATION

PURPOSE WHY IT MATTERS

OBJECTIVESINITIATIVES

Building and embedding sustainability throughout our organisation is critically important to ensure continued growth to our 100-year anniversary and beyond.

This includes sustainability in funding, community support, the environment, and our network and fleet.

Work with the WA community to expand our fundraising, philanthropy and partnerships.

A strategic approach to environmental sustainability.

Ensure our network and aircraft fleet are fit-for-purpose.

• Enhance existing partnerships and develop new ones.

• Expand and enhance fundraising campaigns.

• Implement a Donor Stewardship Strategy.

• Establish a strategy to achieve net zero operations.

• Develop an aircraft replacement plan.

• Establish a facilities and assets development plan.

WACHS Allied Health team members

Jemma and Angela, with patient

Mary and RFDS Nurse Lisa.

MAKING IT HAPPEN

PHASE 1: SHAPE

January 2024 to June 2025

The first phase is focused on the 1 to 18 month period - laying the foundations for success. This involves reviewing, stabilising and enhancing what we are already doing well, and ensuring the organisation is in the best position to achieve its goals.

PHASE 2: SCALE

July 2025 to December 2026

The second phase is focused on building on the foundations of Phase 1. This includes expanding and enhancing our services in collaboration with our partners and communities we serve.

PHASE 3: SUSTAIN

January 2026 and beyond

The final phase is focused on embedding new strategic initiatives into RFDS services across WA.

This Strategy is a dynamic plan for the next five years at the RFDS in WA. We will continue to evolve and adapt with the needs of the communities we serve, and will provide regular updates and opportunities to refresh the timeline alongside the priorities of WA.

FOCUS AREA

PHASE 1: SHAPE 1–18 months PHASE 2: SCALE 18–36 months

WA Health system engagement/collaboration strategy

Evaluation of rotary wing service

Aeromedical

Grow

Systematisation

Research

Kalgoorlie

Establish

The Royal Flying Doctor Service in Western Australia respects and acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands upon which we work, live and fly. We acknowledge their continuing connection to the land, sea and skies of Western Australia.