He was not walking alone.
His mother Sarah joined him, along with Little Wings chief executive Clare Pearson, local nurse Christine Letton, Little Wings nurse Nichole Callan and other members of the support crew.
The journey crossed rural landscapes and connected Dusty with communities along the route.
It also tested the physical and mental endurance of the group.
ABC reported that the team faced both rain and intense sunshine during the 16-day journey. There were difficult days, but there were also communities waiting to welcome them.
Local people provided encouragement, food and support.
Schools and community members joined parts of the journey.
At various points, people came out to cheer Dusty on as he passed through their towns.
His mother later described the welcome from communities along the route as humbling and overwhelming. She also thanked people, pubs, inns and other local supporters who helped feed the walking team along the way.
The journey therefore became more than one boy's fundraising challenge.
It became a community event.
Every kilometre brought the campaign into another town, another group of supporters and another opportunity to talk about children living far from major medical centres.
And while Dusty was focused on the mission, he remained a 12-year-old boy.
ABC reported that during some stretches of the walk, he passed the time thinking about his 1999 Toyota Hilux ute and planning upgrades for it.
That detail captures something important about the story.
Dusty was undertaking something extraordinary, but he was still a schoolboy with ordinary interests, family plans and dreams for the future.
Reaching Canberra
After 16 days on the road, Dusty finally arrived in Canberra.
The distance is reported slightly differently in early and later coverage.
Initial ABC reports referred to the journey as approximately 500 kilometres, reflecting the original planned distance. After completion, the final distance was recorded as approximately 540 kilometres by the Prime Minister's office, ABC and AAP.
The arrival at Parliament House was an emotional moment.
Dusty later told ABC that when he and his team saw the Australian flags at the top of Parliament House, they realised they were almost at the end of the journey.
Supporters gathered to welcome him.
There were children holding handmade signs, community supporters and members of the Little Wings team.
The boy from Warren had completed the walk.
But he still had one important task ahead.
He needed to talk to the Prime Minister.
The Meeting That Changed the Campaign
Dusty's original plan was to ask the Prime Minister to match the money he had raised.
By the time he reached Canberra, his fundraising had already exceeded $500,000.
ABC reported that the total had been around $423,000 when Dusty first completed the walk, before donations pushed the campaign above $500,000. AAP later reported a campaign total of approximately $530,000.
Then came the government announcement.
On September 15, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Health Minister Mark Butler and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health Emma McBride announced new support for Little Wings.
The government said it would match every dollar Dusty had raised.
In addition, it announced another $1 million to extend government support for Little Wings for a further two years.
That meant Dusty's fundraising could have roughly double the direct impact through the matching commitment, while the additional $1 million would provide further support for Little Wings' ongoing work.
Taken together, the campaign and government commitments amounted to approximately $2 million, depending on the final fundraising total.
The moment was much bigger than Dusty had initially imagined.
He had walked to Canberra hoping to persuade the government to match his fundraising.
Instead, the government agreed to the match and announced additional funding as well.
ABC reported that Dusty was overwhelmed by the announcement, while Little Wings chief executive Clare Pearson described the reaction from the organisation's team as one of enormous relief and excitement.
Where the Money Can Make a Difference
The headline figure — approximately $2 million — is striking.
But what does that money actually mean?
Little Wings said the combined support could fund about 600 missions, including missions involving paediatric specialists travelling to regional and remote communities.
These missions are designed to bring specialist healthcare closer to children who might otherwise have to travel long distances to receive it.
The organisation's Medical Wings program illustrates why this model is important.