Royal Flying Doctor Service 'field days': a move towards more comprehensive primary health care

Objective: To examine the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) field day program as a means of strengthening community capacity within a primary health care context in remote communities of north Queensland. Design: Qualitative explanatory study using in‐depth face‐to‐face and phone interviews with field day participants, field day coordinators and RFDS staff and a focus group with RFDS staff. Setting: Rural and remote communities of north Queensland that participate in RFDS field days. Results: Field days were found to be contributing to building capacity for health in the remote communities that have been involved in field days. Participants reported increased linkages and partnerships; increased participation; improved problem‐solving capacity and increased knowledge transfer associated with the conduct of RFDS field days. Conclusion: RFDS field days represent a viable framework for building community capacity for health in remote communities within a primary health care context.