Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network (RMCLHN) offers a range of health supports and services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  

Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officers

The Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer (AHLO) supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers, families, community members, visitors and staff.

They can provide advocacy, cultural, emotional, spiritual and clinical support.

They can also answer any questions you have, offer referrals and information about other services, or receive feedback from you about your experience at our hospital.

The AHLOs do not provide medical advice.

If you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, you can now self-refer to speak with an AHLO by scanning the QR Code on posters located throughout our hospitals, and filling in a short form. Alternatively, you can contact us by phone on (08) 8580 2614.

Once you have completed the form, an AHLO will call you back within 24 hours during Monday to Friday.

Riverland General Hospital (RGH) and Murray Bridge Soldiers' Memorial Hospital (MBSMH) also now have access to AHLO services on weekends.

Riverland Yarn and Grow Healthy Kids drop-in service

If you are concerned about your child’s growth and development, we invite you to drop-in for a yarn with us and other parents – no appointment required!

Located next to Barmera Health Service at Scott Avenue, Barmera in the Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Centre, Yarn and Grow Healthy Kids supports Aboriginal children from birth to five (5) years of age and their families.

Parents, grandparents and guardians are welcome to come along to yarn about any worries related to the health and development of their children.

Yarn and Grow Healthy Kids is a culturally safe space where we can assess your child’s needs and provide you with referrals to paediatric specialists or other health providers if needed. 

Yarn and Grow Healthy Kids is for non-urgent health concerns. If your concern is serious or urgent, please contact your local GP or visit your nearest Emergency Department. Always call Triple Zero (000) in an emergency.

The following services are available through Yarn and Grow Healthy Kids:

Occupational Therapists can help your child with:

  • understanding what they see, touch and hear
  • improving their self-help skills such as toileting, showering, dressing and feeding
  • playing (includes using their imagination)
  • problem solving
  • handwriting.

Speech Pathologists can help your child with:

  • speech sounds
  • language (talking and understanding)
  • voice
  • fluency (stuttering when talking)
  • feeding (including fussy eating)
  • swallowing.

Physiotherapists can help with physical development, movement and coordination skills.

Dietitians can help your child with:

  • introducing solid food
  • fussy eating
  • low energy and recurrent health issues
  • weight concerns
  • allergies and reactions to foods
  • nutrition.

Opening days

Yarn and Grow Healthy Kids will be open on the following dates between 10:30 am and 12:30 pm, and will offer these services:

  • Friday 20 February
    Physio and SP
  • Friday 6 March
    Dietitian and OT
  • Friday 3 April
    Dietitian and OT
  • Friday 17 April
    Physio and SP
  • Friday 15 May
    Physio and SP
  • Friday 29 May
    Dietitian and OT
  • Friday 12 June
    Physio and SP
  • Friday 26 June
    Dietitian and OT.

For more information or assistance, please call the Aboriginal Health Team in Barmera on (08) 8588 0424.

Diabetes clinic in Barmera

Have you recently been diagnosed with diabetes, or have been living with diabetes for a while?

Kristin Muller (RN Credentialled Diabetes Educator) is available for appointments on Tuesday afternoons from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. We can provide education and support with:

  • Lifestyle modifications
  • Medications
  • Devices
  • Testing times and blood glucose level targets
  • Prevention and management of diabetes complications
  • Hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose) and Hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose)
  • Sick day plans.

The clinic is located at the Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Centre next to Barmera Health Service on Scott Avenue in Barmera.

Call (08) 8588 0424 or 0403 639 576 to find out more.

Murray Bridge Tumake Tinyeri Birthing Program

The Tumake Tinyeri Birthing Program aims to provide culturally competent antenatal, labour and early postnatal care for Aboriginal families.

This includes access to a trained midwife and a specialty trained Aboriginal workers during their pregnancy, supporting women to access services for social health issues, support during labour and birth and support for woman and infant care including feeding for the first 6-8 weeks after birth.

To find out more please contact the Tumake Tinyeri Birthing Program at the Murray Bridge Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital on (08) 8535 6777

Moorundi ACCHS

Moorundi Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service Ltd. (ACCHS) deliver a comprehensive range of primary health care services to communities in the Murray Mallee. Visit the Moorundi ACCHS website for more information.

Strategic planning

Aboriginal people experience more life risk factors, poorer health and less acceptable outcomes in a range of life areas when compared to the general population. As a result of these challenges, Aboriginal people are amongst the most disadvantaged population groups in our community. See the following on how we achieve long term Aboriginal health goals with targeted priorities identified and measures of success including specific Aboriginal health criteria.