http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/riverlandmalleecooronglhn

Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network, Regional Executive Office/Riverland General Hospital, 10 Maddern Street, Berri (2026)

14/08/2026

🤩 CONGRATULATIONS to the Clinical Services Planning project which was a finalist for the RMCLHN 2026 Person Centred Award!

The RMCLHN Clinical Services Planning (CSP) project represents a standout example of how person‑centred values can be embedded into large‑scale health service planning through meaningful co‑design and evidence‑informed decision making.

The CSP project ran through 2024–2025 with intensive engagement throughout. It included 13 site visits, 6 focused stakeholder meetings, 408 community survey responses, 5 in-depth consumer interviews, focussed expertise and advice from 21 clinical and key leads, 4 clinical area focus groups, more than 200 attendees at clinician and stakeholder workshops and 3 check-ins with the Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence (RACE) Partnership Council for external advice.

Lived experience and evidence were purposefully translated into clear, actionable service directions across nine clinical streams. The CSP Service Design Team established a coherent, Local Health Network-wide framework for future service improvement and clearly articulated what services can be provided where, ensuring planning decisions align with RMCLHN strategic themes and SA Health priorities.

At its core, the process prioritised community-informed, culturally safe, accessible, and connected care—enabling high-quality services to be delivered closer to home and Country.

📸 Pictured: RMCLHN CEO, Wayne Champion PSM, Leading Service Design Manager, Kerry Dix, Executive Director of Medical Services, Associate Professor Caroline Phegan and Senior Service Design Consultant, Bron Venning.

12/08/2026

🥳 CONGRATULATIONS to the Psychosocial Education Rehabilitation Program (Social Wellbeing Group), who were finalists for the RMCLHN 2026 Person Centred Award!

The Psychosocial Education Rehabilitation Program (Social Wellbeing Group) is an innovative, evidence-informed initiative that addresses a previously unmet need within inpatient and ambulatory rehabilitation services, supporting consumers to understand and adapt to the psychosocial impacts of significant health changes.

It is a structured four-week program delivered through Riverland General Hospital in Berri that includes weekly in-person sessions and was co-designed through consultation with consumers and the multidisciplinary rehabilitation team.

The program recognises that rehabilitation extends beyond physical recovery. It provides a safe, supportive environment for consumers to explore the emotional, psychological, and social impacts of change, areas that are often under-recognised yet critical to achieving meaningful and sustained health outcomes.

Ongoing feedback from participants and staff has been consistently positive, with consumers reporting increased understanding, improved coping strategies, and a greater sense of connection and support.

The program has also contributed to more consistent and meaningful engagement in rehabilitation, supporting improved overall health outcomes.

📸 Pictured: Social Worker Anabelle Stephenson and Clinical Senior Social Worker Alicia Carter.

11/08/2026

It's getting closer! Have you marked October 7 on your calendar? In your diary? Set your alarm? Do it now! You don't want to miss this event! We have 35 stalls and great guest speakers lined up.... You can check out who's coming, over the next few weeks. Check in each week for updates!

10/08/2026

🤩 CONGRATULATIONS to the Riverland Palliative Care Team – winners of the RMCLHN 2026 Person Centred Award!

Riverland Palliative Care is a multidisciplinary team comprising nurses, a nurse practitioner, social workers and medical officers. Their work exemplifies the principles of person-centred care by ensuring consumers and their families are supported to make informed decisions about their end-of-life journey, with dignity, comfort and choice at the forefront.

The team are truly unique in the way they operate with a highly effective service model, made possible through collaboration with the Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence (RACE).

While the region has benefited from access to a nurse practitioner for the past three years, significantly improving timely access to end-of-life medications, the addition of Advanced Trainee doctors through RACE has transformed what is possible for consumers with complex medical needs.

In palliative care, the goal is to fulfill consumers’ (and their loved ones’) wishes around end-of-life care. For many, this includes dying at home, with well controlled symptoms. Under this expanded model, consumers who would previously have required hospital admission due to complex symptoms and complicated end-of-life conditions, can now remain in their home, enabling more people to die how they wish—at home, with their symptoms well-managed, surrounded by family, familiar surroundings and even beloved pets.

The team supported 23 consumers to die at home in 2025, and their home death rate far exceeds the national average. They were also able reduce the number of hospital bed days, demonstrating the broader system benefits of their work.

Working in palliative care requires emotional resilience, compassion and the ability to maintain professional boundaries in the face of profound human experiences. Every member of the team works with compassion, dignity, respect and high-level clinical expertise. At the heart of their approach is enabling consumers to lead their own care experience.

Their work has directly enhanced outcomes not only for consumers but also for carers and families, who consistently provide heartfelt feedback expressing their gratitude for the team’s support during one of life’s most difficult stages.

Through dedication, innovation and holistic, person-centred practice, the Riverland Palliative Care Team is delivering exceptional care and contributing meaningfully to the goals and values of RMCLHN.

Pictured: Wendy Jansen, Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, Helen Stoeckel, Associate Nurse Unit Manager (ANUM) Palliative Care and Nyree Haynes, ANUM Palliative Care.

09/08/2026

When Gerard experienced a stroke in Wallaroo, every minute mattered.

Through the SA Telestroke Service, clinicians at Wallaroo Hospital were able to quickly connect with specialist stroke neurologists to assess Gerard's condition and guide his treatment in real time.

Working alongside regional hospitals and the SA Ambulance Service, the SA Telestroke Service is being expanded to help more South Australians access timely, specialist stroke care closer to home.

The service will now be expanded through a new partnership between SA Health and the Australian Stroke Alliance (ASA), with $430,000 in funding to establish five regional Stroke Coordinator positions across regional South Australia. The new roles will support stroke services in regional LHNs, strengthen coordination of care and help improve outcomes for patients.

08/08/2026

🤩 CONGRATULATIONS to the Mental Health First Aid Program, which was a finalist for the 2026 RMCLHN Inspired Innovation Award!

In 2024, Riverland Integrated Mental Health Inpatient Unit (IMHIU) Team Leader, Tammy Stephenson, and Riverland Community Mental Health Nurse Consultant, Phoebe Clohesy, voluntarily undertook accredited training to become Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Licensed Instructors, enabling RMCLHN to deliver MHFA training in-house.

The course is offered to all staff and equips them with the skills to recognise and respond to mental health challenges until professional support can be accessed. It covers common mental health conditions in adults, signs and symptoms, effective support strategies, and pathways to care.

Tammy and Phoebe draw on many years of clinical mental health experience to bring real-world insights to the content, in a way that external facilitation cannot replicate. The learning environment they create is what sets their delivery of the course apart.

Since transitioning to the in-house model, 97 RMCLHN staff members have completed the course, bringing the total number of Accredited Mental Health First Aiders across the organisation to 107.

📸 Pictured: Riverland IMHIU Team Leader Tammy Stephenson, RMCLHN CEO Wayne Champion PSM and Riverland Community Mental Health Nurse Consultant Phoebe Clohesy.

07/08/2026

💕 Our Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) teams got together across the region to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week!

The week runs annually from 1-7 August and aims to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding and its many benefits.

If you’re experiencing difficulties with breastfeeding, there is support available:
🔹Contact your midwife or CaFHs nurse
🔹Call the Australian Breastfeeding Association helpline on 1800 686 268 or visit their website www.breastfeeding.asn.au

ℹ For access to more information and Fact Sheets about breastfeeding, in a range of languages, visit the Women's and Children's Health Network website bit.ly/43Ca6uW

📸 Pictured: Murray Bridge Soldiers' Memorial Hospital MGP team members Mel and Donna. Riverland MGP team members Julie, Cassie, Andrea and Katherine.

07/08/2026

Who wants to see more photos of our INCREDIBLE aged care staff celebrating Aged Care Employee Day? Kidding - we know you do! 📸🤩

Special shoutout to our Renmark Paringa District Hospital staff who also donned their denim today for Jeans for Genes Day👖

06/08/2026

💙 Today we’re celebrating our INCREDIBLE Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network (RMCLHN) staff working in aged care on Aged Care Employee Day!

Aged Care Employee Day is a chance to shine a spotlight on the tireless efforts of Australia’s amazing aged care workforce and gives everyone an opportunity to say ‘thanks for caring’.

RMCLHN supports aged care consumers across residential, acute and community settings in the region.

Our vision for aged care is that we will support older people to have the best possible quality of life in a safe and home like environment, while providing high quality care that promotes dignity, respect, choice, independence and social connection.

THANK YOU to all our direct care workers, services staff, maintenance staff, administrative staff, community and allied health staff, nurses, doctors and volunteers working in aged care!

📸 Pictured: Aged care staff in , , and .

06/08/2026

Your bowel screening result explained 👇

A positive bowel screening result means that traces of blood were found in your sample. Blood may be present because of reasons other than cancer, such as polyps or haemorrhoids, and it’s important this is looked into.

If you return a positive test result, you will receive a letter asking you to speak to a doctor about follow-up tests. This usually involves a colonoscopy.

People who have a negative result will also receive a letter and be re-invited to screen again in two years’ time.

If you have recently done a bowel screening test and have not received your results in the mail, you or your GP can call the National Cancer Screening Register on 1800 627 701.

ℹ️ To learn more, visit brnw.ch/21x2mKY

Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network

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