The Organisation
For almost a century, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has delivered essential, life-saving healthcare to Australians living in remote, rural and regional communities. The RFDS South Eastern Section provides a comprehensive range of aeromedical retrieval, primary healthcare, dental, mental health and community health services across New South Wales, working in close partnership with communities and governments to address unmet health needs. Operating within a complex, highly regulated environment and in close partnership with governments and communities, RFDS South Eastern Section plays a critical role in addressing health inequity and improving access to high quality care where it is needed most.
1.Non-Executive Director – Fundraising
The opportunity
The Board of RFDS South Eastern Section is seeking to appoint a voluntary Non-Executive Director with deep fundraising and philanthropy expertise. This appointment comes at a pivotal moment as the organisation shifts from strategy design into implementation, execution and governance, with a strong focus on long-term sustainability, diversified revenue and own-source funding.
As a Non-Executive Director, you will contribute to the strategic direction, governance and performance of the organisation, providing insight into contemporary fundraising models, donor stewardship and philanthropic trends. You will bring a strong understanding of governance, compliance and risk in fundraising environments and will contribute at Board and committee level rather than in operational execution.
This role requires the confidence and discretion to operate within a competitive philanthropic landscape while protecting the organisation’s reputation, integrity and social licence. Directors are expected to engage constructively in decision-rich discussions and support the organisation through complexity, constraint and opportunity.
About you
You are a senior fundraising or philanthropy leader with experience gained in large, sophisticated charitable or not-for-profit organisations. You bring strategic judgement, strong governance discipline and a clear understanding of how complex fundraising ecosystems operate at scale.
You are motivated by purpose and impact rather than profile, and you bring a low-ego, highly collaborative approach. You have the capacity and flexibility to contribute meaningfully to a demanding Board role and are comfortable operating in environments characterised by ambiguity, regulation and constraint.
Previous Board experience, strategic leadership experience and formal governance qualifications such as GAICD are desirable but not essential. To avoid conflicts of interest, candidates must not be currently employed by, or actively involved in, another charity’s fundraising activities. Candidates should reside in New South Wales.
2. Non-Executive Director – Medical / Health
The opportunity
RFDS South Eastern Section is seeking to appoint a voluntary Non-Executive Director with deep medical and rural health expertise to join its Board. As a Non-Executive Director, you will contribute medical and health expertise to Board deliberations and governance oversight, supporting clinical quality, safety and service sustainability. The role requires a practical, systems-savvy understanding of healthcare delivery beyond metropolitan settings, including the interfaces between primary care, hospitals, retrieval services and community-based models of care.
This is a governance role rather than an advocacy or academic position, and will suit a candidate comfortable balancing innovation, risk and mission in highly regulated and resource-constrained environments.
About you
You are a registered medical or health practitioner with significant experience in, or deep understanding of, rural and remote healthcare delivery in Australia. Your background is likely to include hands-on experience in regional or remote settings, combined with broader leadership exposure across health services, systems or organisations.
You bring sound judgement, a practical orientation and the ability to contribute constructively at Board level. You are motivated by purpose, grounded in approach and respectful of frontline realities, with the capacity and flexibility to contribute meaningfully to a demanding governance role.
Previous Board experience, understanding of clinical governance in health service organisations, experience in strategic leadership or health service development, and formal governance qualifications such as GAICD are desirable but not essential. Candidates should reside in New South Wales. To manage conflicts of interest, candidates must not be currently involved with competing aeromedical or retrieval services.
How to Apply
For a confidential discussion or role related questions, please contact Adam Dent or Lisa Gleichmann of The Orchard Talent Group at RFDS@orchardtalent.com.au. To apply please submit your current CV and a brief statement outlining your skills via the link. Please note applicants must have a legal right to work in Australia.
Applications close 22 February 2026
The Orchard Talent Group acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work. We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging, for they hold the memories, traditions, culture and hopes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Non-executive Director(s)
Contract Type:
Part Time
Location:
New South Wales
Industry:
Board Appointments
Contact Name:
Lisa Gleichmann
Contact Email:
lisa@orchardtalent.com.au
Contact Phone:
02 9157 6222
Date Published:
02.02.2026