Australian Inland Mission

The Presbyterian Australian Inland Mission played a significant role in the nation building that went on at the turn of the 20th century. An ambitious health, communication and support network for remote desert dwelling Australians, it was deliberately non-evangelical. Founded by the Right Reverend John Flynn, the AIM gave birth to the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the School of the Air. The Flying Doctors are 80 years old this year, and the AIM is now 96, and a $30 million operation, albeit with a name change; the Uniting Church in Australia's Frontier Services. Made for Encounter, on ABC RN.