Meet Dani Venn

We sat down to chat with ‘wholehearted cook’, proud mum and MasterChef favourite, Dani Venn, who is also a dedicated RFDS Victoria ambassador.

Hi Dani! If you were you to meet someone at a dinner party, how would you introduce yourself?

I always find it really hard to sum up what I do because it's not really a normal job or role. But I guess I'd start with, "Hi, my name is Dani and I'm a cook and mum of two kids."

Where did you grow up?

I grew up on a really beautiful, bushy property. I was very free to play, ride motorbikes and horses and explore. We were never at home during the day watching TV or anything – we would always be out and about making our own fun. We would just come home to eat dinner and get food and then we'd be off again on our next adventure.

What are your earliest memories of the Flying Doctor?

That would have to be in primary school, learning the traditional story of the Flying Doctor providing help to the outback. And then there was the TV show!

I feel like everyone grew up knowing about the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the incredible work that the organisation has done in that traditional outback sense. But now I know so much more about the organisation and the work they do in Victoria – and that excites me.

What made you want to advocate for the Flying Doctor?

The work you do is incredible. You go to the ‘hard to reach communities’, which are often under-resourced, to ensure people get access to health care. A lot of people wouldn’t recognise that the services that are available easily in the city are not as easy to access in rural areas.

I mean, where would we be without all of the incredible work of the people in regional and remote Australia? People like farmers – they are the backbone of our community and we really need to support them. Health care should be easily accessible to everyone.

RFDS has always been there for those people – and is finding new and innovative ways to be there into the future – and I think that’s incredible. If there is a way that I could help support that work and raise awareness, then I am really excited and happy to be a part of that.

You mentioned that you have learnt more about the work of the Flying Doctor in Victoria since becoming an ambassador – did anything surprise you?

The work in mental health is incredible – and it’s amazing to see how you run the service to suit the needs of those remote communities. No cost consultations, delivered in the community by travelling clinicians or available by phone demonstrates that you know the challenges people in the country face.

I’m also really impressed with the work around women's health as I believe that’s very important. Coincidentally, one of your rural women's GPs, Vivien Whitechurch, was my local GP when I first had my daughter. So that was a surprise when I saw her onboard!

What are you most looking forward to sharing with your audience about the Flying Doctor?

To me, it’s getting the message across that RFDS is an integral part of the health of rural Australia – but it’s far more than planes.   

It's letting people know that RFDS is a modern organisation that uses modern technology, especially through our recent challenges. It's providing everyday assistance for rural people – on the ground and virtually.