What’s Happening?
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) completed a demanding year of care across Queensland in 2025-26. Teams delivered aeromedical, Primary Health Care, mobile dental, mental health and telehealth services as demand continued to grow.
Why It Matters
For many Queenslanders outside major centres, medical care can involve long travel and limited local options. Flying Doctor aircraft, visiting clinics and remote consultations reduce that gap, supporting patients wherever they live.
Local Impact
Rockhampton carried the heaviest recorded workload among Queensland’s Flying Doctor bases during 2025-26.
The base transported 2,893 patients, the highest total among the seven locations reporting patient figures. Its aircraft also covered 1,605,109 kilometres across 4,401 hours, leading all eight bases in both measures.
Together, these results made Rockhampton the only base to lead patient transfers, distance flown and flying time.
By The Numbers
- Across Queensland, RFDS delivered more than 81,000 occasions of care, averaging 223 services every day.
- Teams transported 13,949 patients, up by 947 people, or 7.28 per cent, from the previous year.
- The 26 King Air aircraft logged 8,963,306 kilometres and 25,067 hours. That included 395,240 extra kilometres and over 1,000 additional hours.
Zoom In
The scale of Rockhampton’s year becomes clearer when compared with the rest of the statewide network. No other base matched its patient total, distance flown or time in the air.
RFDS Queensland Section chief executive Meredith Staib said the figures reflected rising demand and the work required to reach remote patients.
“The Royal Flying Doctor Service exists to serve those who simply don’t have access to the type of medical care taken for granted in larger rural centres and cities,” Ms Staib said. “We’ve seen a significant increase in the number of patients cared for by our teams and the distances our aircraft have had to travel to get them the help they need. These results highlight the vital work our team do and why we continue to provide the finest care to the furthest corners. I am humble and proud to lead a team that’s spread right across Queensland, a team that turns up for patients with care and compassion, day after day.”
Zoom Out
Rockhampton’s aeromedical workload formed part of a much broader program of statewide care. Primary Health Care teams ran 4,716 clinics across around 30 locations, delivering more than 22,000 consultations.
Services reached Eulo in south-west Queensland, Dajarra in central Queensland and Lockhart River in the far north.
The full base figures show how Rockhampton compared with the wider Flying Doctor network.
The 2026 RFDS Patient and Client Experience Survey added a human view to those operational totals. Respondents linked the service with local access, professional care and support during frightening medical situations.
One patient explained how the service had provided care for five decades.
“For 50 years the RFDS has looked after my health care, without it, I would have to travel 500km by car (no bus service here) or get on a plane if available. I would not survive without them.”
Other respondents praised staff for understanding the realities of life outside larger centres.
“Always friendly and professional staff who seem to relate well to country people and understand our distance barrier. We are incredibly lucky to have the health care provided by the RFDS out here where mainstream medical services are not readily available.”
That confidence also appeared in feedback from patients who needed urgent help.
“I want to thank the RFDS team. I was quite scared but the team took good care of me and made sure I was comfortable and looked after.The care I received was above and beyond more than I could have hoped for and I am very grateful to the pilot and staff that helped save my life.”
One final response summed up the wider feeling in six words.
“Thank god for the RFDS.”
What To Look For Next?
RFDS will continue providing aeromedical care, local clinics and telehealth services across Queensland.
If activity remains near current levels, Rockhampton will retain a central place in the patient transfer network. The 2026-27 results will show whether its lead and the statewide rise continue.
