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Stay up to date with the latest Rural Health Innovation Fund news

Newsletter

Country SA PHN's monthly newsletter will regularly feature news and updates on the Rural Health Innovation Fund, including when future grant applications open.

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We encourage you to follow the Rural Health Innovation Fund Facebook page so that you can stay updated.

View the RHIF Facebook page

Mount Gambier Medicare Urgent Care Clinic Opening in 2026

Country SA PHN is pleased to announce that a new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is now open in Mount Gambier. The clinic offers on the spot bulk billed care for the community for urgent but not life-threatening illnesses and injuries.

The Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) is located at 38 Sturt Street, Mount Gambier and will offer urgent care seven days a week from 10am-8pm including public holidays. 

Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are located across Australia and make it easier to access bulk billed (free) urgent health care.

Urgent care is for illnesses or injuries that cannot wait for a regular GP appointment but do not require hospital treatment.

Conditions Medicare Urgent Care Clinics treat include:

  • Minor fractures, sprains, sports injuries, neck and back pain
  • Minor cuts, insect bites, and rashes
  • Minor eye and ear infections
  • Minor infections
  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  • Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
  • Respiratory illness
  • Gastroenteritis
  • Mild burns

Life-threatening emergencies require immediate hospital care. This includes:

  • Chest pain
  • Severe difficulty breathing
  • Severe burns
  • Poisoning
  • Loss of feeling or consciousness
  • Seizures

If you or a loved one has a life-threatening injury or illness, do not attend a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. Call Triple Zero (000) or go directly to Mount Gambier Hospital.

How the clinic works:

  • Walk-in only; no appointment needed
  • A triage nurse assesses urgency on arrival
  • Patients are seen in order of clinical need, not arrival time
  • If the clinic is full, alternative care options will be provided

What to bring:

  • Valid Medicare card
  • Relevant medical history or medication list

After your visit, follow-up care should be arranged with your GP. The clinic provides immediate, short-term care only and does not manage chronic conditions. A discharge summary and any test results will be sent directly to your GP.

For non-urgent, routine, or ongoing health care, your GP is your first point of contact. Examples include:

  • Vaccinations and prescriptions
  • Chronic disease management
  • Mental health support
  • Family planning advice
  • Routine health checks and screening
  • Referrals for tests, scans, or specialist care

The Mount Gambier Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is delivered by Hawkins Urgent Care Clinic and is commissioned by Country SA PHN through the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

For more information go to: https://www.health.gov.au/find-a-medicare-ucc

Flexible Funding

Better access to healthcare for South Australia’s population

Country SA PHN responds to identified national health priorities as determined by the Government, and to respond to local health priorities identified in our 2022-2025 Needs Assessment, by commissioning required services.


The range of services being commissioned under Flexible Funding by Country SA PHN is outlined below.

Commissioned Activity

ICCNet

Country Access to Cardiac Health (CATCH)

Objectives

Telephone based rehabilitaiton service that also involves patients local general practices in their recovery from a cardiac event and ongoing care.

Person cutting apple on a bench. Child standing next to person.
Sonder

Healthy Habits

Objectives

Tailored wellbeing program supporting people to improve their overall health and wellbeing through individualised health coaching and/or healthy lifestyle groups.

ICCNet

24/7 Remote Health Monitoring

Objectives

The service aims to reduce hospital presentations by monitoring patients from the comfort of their home to track their condition and ensure they receive appropriate care.

ICCNet

My Health PoCiTT

Objectives

Use of point of care testing and virtual home monitoring in selected general practice sites.

Save The Children

Support Services

Objectives

Providing support for Aboriginal Mothers and children in Ceduna

Dental Outreach

Dental Services

Objectives

Provide extended access to dental services in the after hours period in Eyre, Flinders and Far West, Kangaroo Island, Limestone Coast, Yorke Peninsula and the Mid North.

Australian Dental Foundation

Dental Services

Objectives

Provide an after hours on call telephone based triage information and advice service with the option of tele-dentistry if required throughout the Murray Mallee and Outback regions.

Royal Flying Doctor Service

Dental Services

Objectives

Provide dental services to remote towns in SA. The RFDS has received funding to extend the hours of this service into the after hours whilst they are visiting, as well as upskilling the local staff to be able to support patients after hours with emergencies and tele-dentistry services.

FocusOne Health

Healthy Eating and Lifestyle

Objectives

Deliver the evidenced based Healthy Eating and Lifestyle (HEAL) modification program over 8 weeks in throughout the CSAPHN region. Participatants undergo an individual health assessment and sessions consist of supervised exercise and lifestyle modification education with follow up at 5 and 12 months post program completion to track progress.

Intergrating Primary Health Care Services

Primary Health Care

Objectives

Provide allied health and other specialist nurse services to under-serviced and disadvantaged people with chronic conditions within the country SA region.

  • Country and Outback Health
  • Eyre and Far North Local Health Network
  • FocusOne Health
  • Royal Flying Doctor Service
  • Sonder Care
  • Yorke and Northern Local Health Network
Cancer Council

Cancer Screening in CALD communities

Objectives

The delivery of appropriate and targeted cancer prevention information and treatments focussing on the importance of early detection intervention with CALD communities in the Limestone Coast.

Shine SA

Gender Wellbeing Service

Objectives

After hours peer-led telephony information and support service (incoming and outgoing calls) to assist trans and gender diverse people living in Country SA PHN region who lack local gender diverse specialist health services.

Arthritis SA

Arthritis: Answering the Big Questions

Objectives

Delivered state-wide and takes a multi-faceted phased approach including consumer workshops, animation development, development of digital resources and community education packs.

Summit Health

Living Well with Chronic Pain

Objectives

The delivery of an early intervention chronic pain service using community education, GP referral lifestyle management, Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and opioid reduction methodologies to educate and improve chronic pain. Murray Mallee Region.

Goyder’s Line Medical

Skin Cancer Screening and Awareness Program

Objectives

To increase early detection and treatment of skin cancers through access to screening services in the primary care setting. Keith, Bordertown ,Coober Pedy, Hawker, Port Augusta, Whyalla.

Stellar Health Solutions

School Immunisation Catch Up Program

Objectives

Build and deliver an alternative model of vaccine administration to catch up under immunised and overdue young Aboriginal people aged between 14-18 years living in Port Augusta.

Please complete the form here and we will be in touch regarding your request.

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Provide Your Feedback

Country SA PHN is fully committed to receiving and resolving complaints.

Complaints made against a service provider commissioned by Country SA PHN should, in the first instance, be referred to that service provider to be addressed under their complaints handling process. The following complaints should be directed to Country SA PHN:

  • Complaints about how PHN commissioning processes were undertaken
  • Complaints about stakeholder engagement

For all other complaints against the wider PHN organisation, reference should be made to the Primary Health Networks Program Complaints Policy. Interested parties who wish to make a complaint about the wider PHN program should contact the Department of Health directly.

It is preferable that you provide your contact details, however If you would like to submit your feedback anonymously, please leave the contact details section blank.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Support for bone health

Reducing the risk of musculoskeletal condition in Australia’s population

Prevalence of arthritis in Australia

Arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions are highly prevalent, affecting around 1 in 3 Australians. Although the conditions are rarely fatal, they are large contributors to illness, pain and disability. Compared with the general population, people with musculoskeletal conditions have higher rates of poor health, very high psychological distress and very severe pain.

These conditions are predominantly managed in primary health care settings by a range of health professionals. Treatment involves a combination of medication (for pain and inflammation); physiotherapy; self-management (such as diet and exercise); education on self-management and living with the condition; and referral to specialist care.

Arthritis SA

Visit the Arthritis SA website for more information

Visit

Please note: Head to Health has recently changed its name to Medicare Mental Health. Information provided on this website is in the process of being updated.

Call one of the services below

Country SA PHN does not provide direct crisis services. If you or someone you know needs more urgent care, please call one of the services below:

Suicide Call Back Service
1300 659 467

A free nationwide service that provides 24/7 telephone and online counselling to people 15 years and over who are affected by suicide

Visit Site
beyondblue Support Service
1300 224 636

Online and 24/7 telephone service that provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live.

Visit Site
eheadspace
1800 650 890

A free and confidential telephone and online service that supports young people aged 12-25 and their families going through a tough time, 7 days a week.

Visit Site
Kids Helpline
1800 551 800

A free, private and confidential 24/7 telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25.

Visit Site
Lifeline
13 11 14

Online, 24/7 telephone and face-to-face crisis support and suicide prevention service that provides counselling, information and referrals to all Australians experiencing a personal crisis.

Visit Site
Medicare Mental Health phone service
1800 595 212

Entry point for people experiencing emotional distress, provides advice, guidance and referral to the local mental health service or support that is right for you.

Visit Site
Mensline Australia
1300 789 978

A telephone and online support, information and referral service, helping men to deal with relationship problems in a practical and effective way.

Visit Site
Thirrili
1800 805 801

Postvention or traumatic incident support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people available 24 hours, 7 days a week.   Thirrili works with Local Elders, community and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander organisations to ensure a community response is put in place to support individuals and families.  

Visit Site
Standby Support After Suicide
1300 727 247

StandBy is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing free face-to face and/or telephone support for anyone who has been bereaved or impacted by suicide at any stage in their life, including, Individuals, families, and friends; witnesses; first responders; and service providers

Visit Site
Black Dog Institute
(02) 8627 3314

Free confidential mental health support for emergency service workers and volunteers including those retired.

Access up to 12 sessions free of charge via telehealth, no referral, Medicare or GP information required. 

Visit Site
Mount Gambier Medicare Mental Health Centre
(08) 8724 7696

7-165 Commercial Street East, Mount Gambier 

Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

A safe and welcoming space to talk to someone if you, or someone you care about, are in distress, or need help finding the right support to meet your needs.

Visit Site
Mount Barker Medicare Mental Health Centre
(08) 8473 6900  

2-4 Cameron Road, Cameron Road Business Park, Mount Barker

Opening hours:

  • Monday to Wednesday: 9am - 7pm
  • Thursday to Friday: 9am - 9pm
  • Saturday to Sunday: 12pm - 8pm

For more information, please contact (08) 8473 6900.

A safe and welcoming space to talk to someone if you, or someone you care about, are in distress, or need help finding the right support to meet your needs.

Visit Site
Port Pirie Medicare Mental Health Centre
(08) 8714 9070 

129 Ellen St, Port Pirie SA 5540

Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

A safe and welcoming space to talk to someone if you, or someone you care about, are in distress, or need help finding the right support to meet your needs.

Visit Site
Lifeline Connect Centre, Clare
(08) 8842 2827

1 Blanche Street, Clare

Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

A place to go for help when crisis looms and things get to be too much.  Access to a volunteer-based community centre for easy, approachable, non-clinical face to face counselling with a trained professional.

Visit Site
Lifeline Connect Centre, Port Pirie
(08) 8842 2827

79 Esmond Road, Port Pirie 

Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

A place to go for help when crisis looms and things get to be too much.  Access to a volunteer-based community centre for easy, approachable, non-clinical face to face counselling with a trained professional.

Visit Site

Supporting health professionals

Providing advice for suitable services or community groups in rural SA

Access our tender documents

Gender Connect Country SA support professionals including doctors, nurses/midwives, counsellors, teachers, school supports and more. Gender Connect Country SA can tailor support to your needs, for example if you:

  • have questions regarding the needs of transgender, gender diverse or gender questioning clients
  • would like advice on using respectful and inclusive language
  • have questions regarding transition related health care and referrals to other practitioners
  • have questions regarding issues that impact the transgender, gender diverse or gender questioning community
  • Compliance with regulatory requirements and national standards.
  • would like to know more about how you can help support those who are transgender, gender diverse or gender questioning
  • would like to organise a Workforce Training Update session for your organisation or team
Gender Connect

Find out more information about Gender Connect Country SA through SHINE SA

Visit Site