Toll Group has been awarded an landmark $870 million contract by the South Australian Government to provide State Police, Ambulance and Rescue Aviation Services. Announced on 4 March 2025, the 15-year agreement positions Toll as a critical partner in delivering essential emergency and law enforcement aviation across the state.
Contract Details
The contract covers a comprehensive range of aviation services including law enforcement operations, search and rescue missions, and medical transport. Toll will deploy a fleet of eight aircraft comprising both fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms to meet the diverse operational demands of the program.
Fixed-wing services are expected to reach initial operational capability by November 2026, with full operational capability for rotary-wing services targeted for October 2027. The phased rollout allows for rigorous testing, crew training, and systems integration ahead of full deployment.
As part of the agreement, Toll will establish a state-of-the-art operations centre near Adelaide Airport. This facility will serve as the coordination hub for all aviation services delivered under the contract, bringing together dispatch, maintenance oversight, and operational management under one roof.
Indigenous Partnership
A defining feature of the contract is Toll’s partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (SA and NT) and Gunggandji Aerospace through the Indigenous Defence & Infrastructure Consortium (iDiC). This collaboration is designed to deliver operational excellence while creating meaningful opportunities for Indigenous Australians in the aviation and defence sectors.
The operations centre near Adelaide Airport will be staffed by Gunggandji and iDiC recruits, with Toll providing training, systems integration, and ongoing operational support. Five full-time roles will be recruited by Gunggandji, establishing a direct pathway for Indigenous employment within the program. The partnership model ensures that the contract delivers lasting social value alongside its core service obligations.
The involvement of the Royal Flying Doctor Service brings decades of experience in remote and regional aviation operations, strengthening the consortium’s capacity to deliver reliable services across South Australia’s vast geography.
Broader Toll Group Strategy
The South Australia aviation contract represents a significant expansion of Toll Group’s footprint in government and defence aviation services. While Toll is widely recognised for its logistics and freight operations across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, the company has been steadily building its aviation capabilities in recent years.
Securing an $870 million commitment over 15 years provides Toll with long-term revenue certainty and reinforces its credentials as a trusted partner for complex government programs. The contract also highlights a growing trend among Australian state governments to engage private sector operators for specialised emergency services, moving beyond traditional public-sector delivery models.
For the broader logistics and transport industry, the deal underscores the strategic importance of diversification. Companies with established operational infrastructure and workforce management expertise are increasingly well-positioned to compete for government contracts that extend beyond conventional freight and supply chain services.
Sources: Toll Group, Australian Aviation, Air Med and Rescue