RFDS commissioned SVA Consulting to conduct an independent social impact evaluation of the organisation as a whole, alongside focused evaluations of:

  • The Rio Tinto LifeFlight Jets service
  • The Fortescue Heli-med Helicopter service
  • The partnership between Rio Tinto and RFDS

The evaluation sought to better understand RFDS’s role in improving health outcomes, the impact of key services and partnerships, and how the organisation could continue to strengthen its support for communities across WA.

Our impact

SVA Consulting worked in close collaboration with RFDS to design and deliver a rigorous and inclusive evaluation. Together we:

  • Facilitated multiple workshops to co-develop an organisational theory of change, as well as service-specific theories of change for each focus area.
  • Designed a comprehensive evaluation plan, incorporating an outcomes framework and a suite of data collection tools.
  • Developed a single overarching survey with skip logic, tailored to diverse cohorts such as community members, health workers, staff, and partner organisations.
  • Travelled extensively across WA — including the Goldfields, Pilbara and Kimberley — to carry out semi-structured interviews and focus groups with stakeholders at each RFDS base location.
  • Analysed existing program and flight data in detail to capture both quantitative and qualitative insights.
  • Produced a set of comprehensive evaluation reports for RFDS, covering the organisation as a whole and each service area, including a dedicated evaluation of the Rio Tinto–RFDS partnership.

Results and impact

The evaluation provided RFDS with a clearer picture of its distinctive role and contributions to community health, while offering valuable insights into how services might evolve to meet future needs.

As a result of this project, RFDS and its partners are better equipped to:

  • Strengthen service delivery and enhance access to healthcare across Western Australia
  • Deepen the sophistication of the partnership between RFDS and Rio Tinto, ensuring benefits for both organisations as well as the wider community
  • Build on their evidence base to continue improving outcomes for people living and working in some of the most remote parts of the country

By grounding decisions in robust evidence, RFDS and its partners can move forward with greater confidence, ensuring their services continue to save lives and improve health for WA communities well into the future.

Royal Flying Doctor Service hanger

© Paul Sadler

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