After 13 years of dedicated service with the South Australia/Northern Territory division of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), chief executive, Tony Vaughan ASM, will retire at the end of 2026.

Joining the RFDS as chief operating officer and then chief executive, Vaughan has helped shape some of the most important chapters in the Australian aeromedical charity's recent history.

These highlights include pioneering the aeromedical design of the Pilatus PC-24 Medi-Jet, guiding the RFDS through the COVID-19 pandemic, advancing public value projects such as patient transfer facilities, the William Creek Virtual Emergency Centre and Port Augusta Centre for Rural Health and Education, as well as the RFDS's ever-evolving digital health and AI initiatives.

RFDS chair Peter de Cure AM says Vaughan leaves the RFDS in a strong position, ready to sustainably support healthier and happier Australians no matter where they live, work or play.

“On behalf of the board, our staff, volunteers, partners and the entire RFDS community, we thank Tony for his outstanding leadership and service,” de Cure states. “We know Tony will remain a great friend of the RFDS.”

Vaughan joined the RFDS as COO in 2014, and was appointed chief executive in November 2018.

As the RFDS prepares for its next chapter, the organisation has appointed Dr Dominic Morgan as its incoming chief executive.

Morgan brings more than 35 years' experience across emergency and non-emergency health care, including extensive leadership of aeromedical services and more than 17 years as a chief executive.

Most recently, he served for 10 years as commissioner and chief executive of NSW Ambulance, leading a multidisciplinary workforce of 8,000 across 279 operational sites. His responsibilities included executive oversight of a fleet of 20 aircraft operating across nine bases, encompassing fixed-wing, rotary-wing and jet operations. Previously, Morgan was the chief executive of Ambulance Tasmania, with responsibility for statewide aeromedical and retrieval services. Morgan served as chief executive of NSW Ambulance from February 2016, stepping down on 20 March 2026 after a decade in the role.

“Dominic's experience leading complex health and emergency service organisations, combined with his frontline clinical background as a registered paramedic and academic credentials including a PhD in medical research, makes him exceptionally well suited to lead the RFDS,” de Cure affirms. “He brings demonstrated expertise in clinical governance, organisational transformation, workforce and cultural reform, major aviation and infrastructure programmes, alongside a strong commitment to improving health outcomes for rural and remote Australians and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

“The board is confident Dominic's proven leadership, operational expertise and experiences working in partnership with governments, health services and regional communities will be valuable as the RFDS enters its next horizon.”

Commencing as chief executive designate on 30 November 2026, Morgan will undertake a comprehensive handover with Vaughan before he retires in December 2026.