Rio Tinto partners with Royal Flying Doctor Service

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) will contribute $14.675m over the next five years in a new partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) (Queensland Section).

The five-year social impact partnership will focus on strengthening healthcare access and outcomes across regional Queensland.

Key areas include enhancing telehealth triage capability to better prioritise patient needs, introducing podiatry services to support chronic disease care, expanding mental health support across North and Far North Queensland and improving access to culturally appropriate care by increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers.

Since 2020, Rio Tinto has supported the RFDS in Queensland, helping to enhance healthcare delivery through initiatives such as the COVID-19 telehealth response and contributing to the development and maintenance of RFDS bases and patient transfer facilities.

Rio Tinto has also made separate donations to assist the RFDS (Queensland Section) with recovery efforts following Cyclone Jasper and this year’s severe weather and flooding across Queensland.

The RFDS (Queensland Section) understands the unique challenges facing regional, rural and remote communities, including Indigenous communities. Limited access to primary healthcare in these areas often means fewer opportunities for prevention, worse health management and poorer overall health outcomes.

RFDS (Queensland Section) chief executive Meredith Staib says the new five-year partnership with Rio Tinto will deliver real and measurable improvements for patients and communities, by strengthening and enhancing rural and remote health services, building workforce capability and contributing to closing the gap in Indigenous health outcomes.

“I can’t thank Rio Tinto enough for their commitment to improving the health of regional Queenslanders,” she said.

“This agreement will be a catalyst for change in the health and wellbeing of people living in some of the most remote parts of the state — from enabling earlier intervention and preventive care, to supporting better management of complex and chronic conditions closer to home.

“We know that nearly 35% of the patients our clinicians see identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

“The RFDS Best for the Bush: Rural and Remote Baseline 2023 report highlighted the glaring inequality in health outcomes for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people versus non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

“This partnership with Rio Tinto is more than funding, it reflects a shared commitment to changing the trajectory of health in rural and remote Queensland.

“It stands as a model for what’s possible when two purpose-driven organisations come together to remove barriers, improve access and deliver care where it’s needed most.”

RFDS (Queensland Section) general manager virtual and digital health Shaun Francis says the new funding will have an immediate impact.

“The ability to more effectively triage telehealth calls will be a game changer for us as it will give us the ability to deliver more services to the patients that need it most,” he said.

RFDS (Queensland Section) state manager mental health Tim Driscoll says the mental health challenges facing those in regional and remote areas remains very real.

“With Rio Tinto’s support, we can expand our mental health services into some of Queensland’s most remote communities, placing clinicans where they’re needed most and that gives individuals and families, earlier access to quality psychological care, close to home,” he said.

Rio Tinto pacific operations aluminium managing director Armando Torres comments on the partnership.

“We’re proud to extend our partnership with the RFDS to help deliver better health outcomes for rural and regional Queensland communities,” he said.

“This $14.675m investment will support early intervention and culturally safe psychological care in high-need areas, expand 24/7 virtual triage services and strengthen chronic disease management to reduce preventable hospitalisations.

“It will also contribute to growing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner workforce, making care more accessible and culturally appropriate.

“This partnership is about making a real difference to the health and wellbeing of people living in some of Queensland’s most remote and hard-to-reach areas.

“What began as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved into a long-term collaboration focused on improving health outcomes across the state. This next chapter reflects a shared commitment to removing barriers and expanding access critical services and building a healthier future for all Queenslanders.”

RFDS (Queensland Section) yearly by the numbers

• More than 200 occasions of care across Queensland each day
• More than 2100 immunisations administered
• More than 12,300 consultations conducted by headspace Cairns and RFDS mental health clinicians
• More than 1300 medical chests in rural and remote locations throughout Queensland
• More than 13,000 patients transferred via aeromedical service
• More than 24,750 consultations were conducted at RFDS GP and nurse clinics in Queensland
• More than 18,800 remote consultation calls through our telehealth service
• More than 2300 consultations by our RFDS Dental Service