Story
A higher purpose
words Heidi HELBIG
PHOTOGRAPHY john krÜger
It’s a long way from the dusty airstrips of the outback to the political powerhouses of Canberra.
But no matter where he finds himself, healthcare senior executive Tony Vaughan ASM has only one thing on his mind – making change for good.
“I always was, and still am, driven by the fact there needs to be change to drive service improvements. I hate the status quo; I will always be seeking outcomes that are people and patient focused,” Tony says.
As the Chief Executive at the Royal Flying Doctor Service SA&NT (RFDS), the fifth-generation Angaston resident is an outstanding ambassador for the world’s oldest and largest aero-medical organisation.
“Most people know the RFDS because we are Australia’s most trusted charity, and because of the TV series. That’s the sexy stuff, us flying out to the bush and rescuing people,” Tony says.
“But 70 per cent of what we do is primary health care. North of Port Augusta we are everybody’s GP, dentist, midwife, mental health professional and much more because there’s nothing else.”
It’s what motivates Tony to advocate for RFDS employees and volunteers across South Australia and the Northern Territory.
“I always hope that people who come to the RFDS, whether for a short time or a long time, leave better for the experience,” Tony says.
“Working with volunteers, working with community, getting out in the bush – it’s worthwhile work.
“We can’t match the big salaries of big business or the public sector, but we offer opportunities to do things you wouldn’t do anywhere else.”
Now, on the cusp of retirement, Tony reflects on a decorated and rewarding career that began as a St John Ambulance cadet at the age of 11.
Despite becoming apprenticed to Yalumba Wines as a fitter and machinist, Tony was always “medically minded” and continued to work in the emergency field.
“The Hill Smith family were really supportive of me turning up late or leaving work to do ambulance work,” says Tony. “Back then there was only one paid paramedic at Angaston – now there’s 18.”
Redeployed to Elizabeth and then Port Augusta, in 1988 Tony married Trudy – also a former St John cadet and now nurse unit manager at Angaston Hospital – and quickly rose through the ranks to become district and then general manager of SA Ambulance Service (SAAS).
In 2009, he was recruited by the then Health Minister John Hill to head up MedSTAR, the State’s new emergency medical retrieval arm of SAAS.
After the bureaucracy of negotiating the State’s public health system, Tony says joining Australia’s loved charitable institution to bid for Commonwealth, State and Territory contracts was a “refreshing” change.
“It’s unique because the Royal Flying Doctor Service is national, for a start, and it’s the largest aeromedical organisation in Australia,” Tony says.
“In theory, we can have 85 aircraft doing on average 105 aero-medical evacuations every day across Australia.
“We can be agile, which I really like. We found that out during Covid. We carried blood, pathology results, clinicians – we did lots of things for people we wouldn’t normally do, because we were the only organisation flying.”
The job leverages Tony’s extensive mechanical, clinical and management experience, which is complemented by qualifications in mechanical engineering, paramedicine and business administration.
“I can talk to nurses and doctors because I’ve been a paramedic and managed a retrieval service, so they can’t pull the wool over my eyes,” Tony says.
“I guess I’m very people focused. We have grown from 150 employees to close to 500, and for every paid staff member we have approximately three volunteers. That requires effort, and we’ve had to work hard on systems, process and people.”
And his door is always open.
“The culture of the RFDS is if you want to talk to the Chief Executive, you can. Most people know I’m in the car at 6.30 in the morning, so I’m fair game,” he laughs.
Perhaps Tony’s greatest feat was pioneering the design of the Swiss-engineered Pilatus PC-24.
With five in the national fleet, valued at AUD$18 million apiece, Tony says these single-pilot aircraft have been “a game changer” for emergency aeromedical care.
“Mostly, aero medical jets are corporate jets that have been retro-fitted; the PC24s are the first purpose-built jets in the world that can land on grass and gravel and dirt,” he says.
“Where they come into their own is on long-haul flights. It’s just over two hours from Adelaide to Alice Springs, and three and a half hours from Adelaide to Darwin.
“Flying at 45,000 feet, up above where Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin fly, these jets can take three stretcher patients and two clinicians, or two stretcher patients and four clinicians, depending on the acuity of care required.”
It’s a far cry from 1928, when Reverend John Flynn – immortalised on the Australian $20 note – founded the Flying Doctor Service with a biplane called Victory, leased from Qantas for 10 schillings every mile flown.
“Whenever I’m doing a talk I encourage people to take their $20 notes out – and then I remind them we’re a charity,” Tony said laughing.
“Wherever I go, whether it’s a fundraiser or corporate event, someone comes up and tells me an RFDS story.
“It’s very humbling.”
“I feel very humbled to have had the opportunity to lead the RFDS for 13 years. I will leave knowing it’s on the right path to ensure healthier, happier Australians no matter where they live, work or play.”
- Tony Vaughan
Looking forward to retirement in December 2026, the Valley Hot Rodders president plans to indulge his love for 1950s rock and roll and custom car restoration – he and Trudy have four between them – and spend time with grandchildren Evie and Connor.
His professional legacy is likely to be well remembered too.
“I feel very humbled to have had the opportunity to lead the RFDS for 13 years. I will leave knowing it’s on the right path to ensure healthier, happier Australians no matter where they live, work or play.”
