He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for 19 years from 3 March 1962 until his retirement on 28 August 1981 for the Liberal Party.

On 20 June 1942, at age 18, he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as a Warrant officer in Canada and saw service in England and the Middle East with No.

[3] Healey became heavily involved within many areas of community service, including as Chairman of the Davidson Park Trust, in which capacity he was instrument in the establishment of Garigal National Park, the vice-president of the Royal Life Saving Society, vice-president of the Manly-Warringah Scouting Association, vice-president of the New South Wales Division of the Air Force Association, chairman of the Wentworth Park Trust, the founder of the New South Wales Water Safety Council, and as state president of the New South Wales Little Athletics Association.

In 1975 he took over one of the most difficult portfolios, Minister for Health, a position he held until the defeat of the Sir Eric Willis Government in 1976.

[9] On 5 December 2000, he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for "Service as President of the Little Athletics Association of NSW for 30 years".