ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE CEO DISCUSSES STRATEGY AND CHALLENGES FACED BY REMOTE WA

RFDS CEO JUDTH BARKER (SUPPLIED)

BY ASAD KHAN

Judith Barker, CEO of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Western Australia, recently shared insights into the RFDS’s new WA Strategy for 2024-2028 during a visit to Port Hedland.

In an interview, Ms Barker emphasized the importance of community partnerships and a multi-faceted approach to healthcare delivery across regional and remote areas of WA, especially for Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions.

Ms Barker explained the significance of the RFDS’s ongoing engagement with stakeholders and partners in the north of the state.

She said engagement with the stakeholders is very important for RFDS.

"I make sure to come up here regularly and check in with our team and also our stakeholders and partners here in Port Hedland."

The RFDS WA Strategy 2024-2028 is built on three core principles: innovation, partnership, and safety.

According to Ms Barker, these principles are central to the organization’s decision-making process.

“We need to provide the best service we can to those we serve, so we make decisions in conjunction with the people who use our services,” she said.

"We work closely with important institutions like the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service and the Pilbara Health Service. We also have consumer groups where we seek feedback to ensure we are getting things right."

While RFDS is renowned for its aeromedical services, Ms Barker highlighted the organization's focus on expanding primary healthcare to address preventable illnesses.

“We want to make sure that we're investing in primary health and increasing access so that people don’t need us on the worst day of their life,

“By expanding our primary healthcare services, we aim to keep people healthier and reduce the demand for emergency aeromedical evacuations.”

During the interview, Barker also acknowledged the pressing health issues faced by Aboriginal communities, including conditions like scabies, which are exacerbated by limited access to basic facilities such as laundry services.

“People in Perth might not appreciate the impact this has on someone’s health,” she said.

She referred to successful programs in the Northern Territory, where washing machines powered by solar energy were introduced to remote communities, significantly improving health outcomes.

Ms Barker also stressed the importance of oral health, noting its far-reaching implications for overall wellbeing.

“Poor dental health can negatively affect cardiac health and even impact children’s ability to speak and eat properly, which in turn affects their diet and can lead to conditions like diabetes,” she explained.

When asked about the fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) maternity workforce plans for Carnarvon, Ms Barker acknowledged that while temporary solutions can help, they are not a long-term fix.

“There’s no single solution to this issue,” she said.

"We need to adopt a layered approach, with different health agencies and the government working together. While FIFO doctors and telehealth will always be necessary, we also need face-to-face care,

“In the Pilbara, there are 50% fewer full-time GPs compared to the Australian average, which means people are more likely to go to the emergency department for conditions like mental health crises.”

Ms Barker shared that the RFDS WA Strategy 2024-2028 focuses on improving access to healthcare by working closely with Aboriginal medical services and community organizations.

“We want to co-design services with the communities we serve,

“We see 10,000 patients a year in our primary health clinics and run dental and mental health services, but we can’t do it all on our own. We need to work with partners and listen to the communities to find solutions.”

The RFDS CEO also pointed to the increasing demand for aeromedical services in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions.

She said unfortunately, we’ve seen the number of patients we transport grow each year.

“In the Kimberley, 80% of our patients are Aboriginal, and in the Pilbara, more than a third are. This is why it’s crucial for us to focus on primary healthcare, so we can reduce the need for emergency interventions.”

“Whether you live in the red dirt, harvest gold, or live by the sea, we’re here for you,”

Listen to Ngaarda Media’s Lead Journalist Asad Khan speak with Royal Flying Doctor Service CEO Judith Barker: