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About Eyre and Far North Local Health Network

The Eyre and Far North Local Health Network (EFNLHN) covers over 350,000 square kilometres and is the largest geographical area of any Local Health Network in South Australia.

Port Lincoln and Ceduna are the two birthing hospitals in EFNLHN, both offering different models of care for birthing mothers.

Find out more about the Eyre and Far North Local Health Network.

Program information

The 12-month TPPP is an exciting, supportive and successful program. The program is designed to ensure graduate midwives are allowed a safe and supported space to transition from a student midwife to an advanced beginner midwife.

Ceduna District Health Service

Ceduna runs a Midwifery Group Practise (MGP) to care for local expectant mothers and averages 40 births a year. This enables local patients to be cared for by the same (primary) midwife and supported by a small group of midwives throughout their pregnancy, during childbirth, and in the early weeks at home.

The Aboriginal Family Birthing Program (AFBP) provides pregnancy, birth, and postnatal care to Aboriginal patients, or patients having an Aboriginal baby, collaborating with Aboriginal Maternal Infant Care (AMIC) practitioners, midwives, GP/Obstetricians and any relevant agencies. The Ceduna Hospital MGP was a finalist in the 2020 Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards.

Port Lincoln Health Service

Port Lincoln has a medical shared care maternity model, servicing birthing mothers of the Eyre Peninsula. Approximately 275 births occur in Port Lincoln per year. Port Lincoln Hospital supports birthing mothers from pre-natal education, through to community-based midwifery for 6 weeks post-natal care. Port Lincoln midwives work closely with the local General Practitioner/Obstetricians and community-based midwives to support the mother and baby through their continuum of care. Isabella Waller, Port Lincoln Midwife, was awarded the ’Excellence in Practice – Early career Midwife’ award at the 2022 SA Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards.

Supernumerary days and orientation

Each TPPP midwife is supported with dedicated supernumerary time, providing the space to “find your feet” and confidently settle into practice before taking on a full clinical workload. Your first days on site include a tailored orientation program specific to your ward and location to help you become familiar with the environment, team, and expectations.

During this time, you’ll work closely with key staff ensuring a strong foundation is in place. Supernumerary support is offered across a variety of shifts and at the beginning of new rotations (where applicable), so you feel prepared and supported every step of the way.

Professional development days

All TPPP midwives participate in a mixture of professional development days throughout the 12 months, offered in various locations.

Four of these days are held in Adelaide, at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital where all regional TPPP midwives come together. This is a time to share stories, debrief and hear about other experiences of the rural midwife.

At the commencement of the year, three days are held in Eyre and Far North. All TPPP nurses and midwives are brought together to build networks, develop key contacts, and work through orientation processes, and practise key skills, setting each individual up for success. These sessions are not only about learning, but about support, growth, and building a strong professional network within the region. We also have fun experiencing some of what the Region has to offer.

Clinical support, facilitation and mentoring

Each birthing site in EFNLHN has a dedicated Clinical Midwife Facilitator. The Clinical Midwife Facilitators establish contact with each TPPP midwife prior to arriving on site. Establishing early contact with all our TPPP midwives is important, as we aim to ensure your commencement is as stress free as possible. We acknowledge that some of our TPPP midwives are moving to new towns to commence their career in midwifery, which can be daunting. In addition, the EFNLHN Team are here to support each TPPP midwife and are dedicated to assisting and welcoming each new staff member to our Local Health Network, our hospitals and to the career of rural midwifery. The Clinical Midwifery Facilitator walks beside each TPPP midwife, offering timely bedside support and increasing confidence during the early stages of transition.

Full-time/part-time opportunities

Each contract of employment is negotiated with the successful applicant, and their site of employment. Each TPPP nurse is offered a 0.84 full time equivalent (FTE) (64 hours per fortnight), however this can be negotiated taking into account individual circumstances. The TPPP nurse must work no less than 0.63FTE (48 hours per fortnight). Full time 1.0FTE (80 hours per fortnight) is only permitted in certain circumstances.

Wellbeing

At EFNLHN, supporting the wellbeing of our TPPP nurses is a top priority. To help manage fatigue, transition shock, and ensure a balanced work-life experience, we assist in planning and booking annual leave early in the year. This allows our TPPP nurses to take well-timed breaks and maintain their overall wellbeing throughout the program. Here at EFNLHN we work with you to ensure a practical work-life balance.

Additional support for wellbeing includes:

  • access to specialised clinical and emotional support from the EFNLHN Education Team.
  • regular check-ins and opportunities for regular debriefing
  • opportunities for peer connection and networking across the region
  • a comprehensive calendar of education and development sessions
  • timely, bedside guidance from a dedicated Clinical Nurse Facilitator, who supports each nurse through the early stages of transition and builds confidence in their practice
  • Fitness Passport
  • Employee Assistance Program.

Key benefits

The aim of the TPPP is to provide a supportive transition experience progressing from novice midwife to advanced beginner. This journey, over the 12-month period, is complemented by robust clinical and emotional support, timely Professional Development days, awareness of organisational socialisation and workplace culture.

EFNLHN TPPP midwives will have the opportunity to work their full scope of practise, experiencing a wide range a clinical exposure throughout the program. TPPP midwives will be supported by senior midwives, who themselves have worked in a regional midwifery role.

EFNLHN has a proud history of high staff retention, with 86% of TPP participants remaining with the network over the last four years post program completion, this is a testament to our organisational culture and support. Many go on to complete advanced clinical specialisation programs, drawn to the unique and rewarding nature of midwifery in rural and remote communities.

Isabella Waller was the winner of the SA Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Wards “Excellence in Practise – Early Career Midwife” in 2022. Find out more about Isabella.

Intake dates

  • February 2026

Further information

Visiting the Eyre and Far North Region? We would happily arrange a guided tour of one of our birthing facilities.

For any further information about undertaking a TPPP in the Eyre and Far North Local Health Network please contact Health.EFNLHNEducationandWorkforceDevelopment@sa.gov.au.