The Nationals’ Members for Euroa and Northern Victoria, Annabelle Cleeland and Gaelle Broad, have called on the State Government to immediately commit funding to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Community Transport program, warning that its lifesaving volunteer patient transport services will cease in June without urgent support.
Despite its proven success and undeniable need, the RFDS transport program is set to run out of funding within months, leaving thousands of regional Victorians without a vital means of accessing medical care. A proposal has been submitted to the government seeking a four-year funding commitment to ensure the program’s continuation.
With 159 volunteers, 12 staff, more than 1500 active clients, and an incredible 22,000 trips provided each year, the program has been a lifeline for patients across 12 local government areas (LGAs), ensuring those in remote and rural communities can reach essential medical appointments.
Ms Cleeland said the Allan Labor Government must not turn its back on regional Victorians who rely on this service.
“This funding should be a non-negotiable,” Ms Cleeland said.
“For many vulnerable and isolated people without access to public transport, this service is the difference between receiving critical medical care or missing out entirely.
“In my electorate alone, nearly 20,000 transport trips have been completed in Heathcote and across the North East—demonstrating the enormous demand for this service.
“Without this program, many patients would be left with no practical or affordable way to reach medical specialists, and the consequences could be devastating.
“To say this service improves health outcomes is an understatement—it literally saves lives.”
Ms Broad said it was unfathomable that the Allan Labor Government could let a service of this magnitude collapse, while continuing to waste billions of dollars elsewhere.
“This program costs just over $2 million per year to operate—a tiny fraction of the wasteful spending we see from this government every single day,” Ms Broad said.
“In fact, the cost of fully expanding this service statewide over four years is comparable to just one day of the Labor Government’s interest payments on Victoria’s ballooning debt.
“At a time when the State Budget has delivered cuts to essential health programs, volunteer-driven initiatives like the RFDS are more critical than ever.
“This government cannot continue to ignore regional Victoria—funding this service must be an urgent priority.”
The RFDS has also proposed a statewide expansion plan that would extend its reach to over 7500 clients across 48 LGAs, ensuring even more Victorians have access to life-changing and lifesaving transport.
Photo caption: The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria, Gaelle Broad, The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, and RFDS Victoria CEO, Michael Ben-Meir.
