Locum at Lameroo & Pinnaroo, SA
About Lameroo & Pinnaroo
Lameroo and Pinnaroo are twin rural communities situated 40 km apart in the Mallee region. These towns offer a peaceful working environment with a strong agricultural heritage and welcoming local population. You’ll work across both sites, contributing to emergency, inpatient, and GP clinic care with the support of a regular salaried GP team.
Key facts about Lameroo & Pinnaroo Hospital
Hours and On-call
Ward Rounds:
- Lameroo: 8:30 AM daily
- Pinnaroo: 9:00 AM daily
- Conducted prior to consulting; managed by the on-call doctor
Clinic Hours:
- Lameroo: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Mon–Thu), 1-hour lunch
- Pinnaroo: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (Mon–Fri), 1-hour lunch
- Appointments scheduled 4 patients per hour (15-minute slots)
- One emergency/follow-up slot reserved each hour
Emergency Department:
- Average of 3 presentations per day per site
- On-call coverage required during placement, particularly for admitted patients
- Locums typically cover weekend shifts if booked for a full 7-day period
Location:
Mallee Region, SA Health
Payment Frequency:
Weekly payroll via DNA Payroll or monthly via SA Health
Orientation
- On-site induction provided on arrival
- Orientation to clinical systems, ED processes, and hospital routines
- Contact details and handover from local team arranged pre-placement
- Please arrive the day before your first shift where possible
Why work at Lameroo & Pinnaroo
Lameroo and Pinnaroo offer the kind of rural generalist work that keeps your skills sharp across the board. You’ll move between GP consults, inpatient care, aged care and emergency presentations, with the right balance of structure and variety. Clinics are run at a sensible pace, ward rounds are predictable, and the ED sees steady but manageable activity.
The team is small and supportive, so you’re never just covering shifts in isolation — you’re part of a group that values collaboration and good communication. It’s the kind of environment where you can practice full-scope medicine, build confidence in solo decision-making, and still know you have reliable nursing and admin support around you.
For doctors who want meaningful rural practice without the intensity of bigger hospitals, Lameroo and Pinnaroo give you space to do the work properly and make a clear impact in the community.
The facilities and services at Lameroo & Pinarroo
-
Lameroo District Health Service
• 6 acute beds
• 8 aged care rooms
• Consulting practice with 3 rooms
• Practice nurse support and full admin team -
Pinnaroo Soldiers Memorial Hospital
• 8 acute beds
• 13 aged care rooms (mostly twin-share)
• 1 consulting room
• Small nursing team and admin support
Complexities, inpatients, and ED presentations
-
Inpatients:
• Daily ward rounds required at both sites (Lameroo and Pinnaroo)
• Mix of acute care patients and aged care residents
• Reviews typically low to moderate acuity, but solo decision-making often needed -
Emergency Presentations:
• Around three ED presentations per site per day on average
• Primarily low to moderate acuity (falls, minor injuries, chest pain, exacerbations of chronic disease)
• Occasional higher-acuity cases requiring stabilisation and retrieval support -
Complexities:
• Full responsibility for admitted patients during your placement
• On-call coverage for ward and ED presentations, particularly on weekends
• Balancing GP clinics with inpatient and emergency care requires strong organisational skills
• Rural context means limited o
Hospital team and culture:
-
Small, dedicated GP team:
• Dr James Rothgrew – 2 days/week
• Dr Harmonie Wong – currently on leave
• Dr James Buchanan – 2 days/week across Karoonda & Lameroo
• Dr Murray Barson – 3 days/fortnight, mainly Karoonda
• Locum doctors provide essential additional coverage across both hospitals -
Nursing & Admin Support:
• Lameroo: practice nurses rostered 7 days/fortnight
• Pinnaroo: practice nurses rostered 3 days/fortnight
• Both sites supported by experienced admin staff who manage flow and systems -
Culture:
• Collaborative environment where doctors, nurses and admin work closely side by side
• Strong sense of community trust — locum doctors are welcomed and valued, not treated as outsiders
• Emphasis on teamwork, good communication and mutual respect
• Doctors often describe the placements as supportive and collegial, with a clear appreciation from patients and staff alike
Mental health support:
Access to both EAP and DNA's partnership with MyMirror
Impact on local community:
-
You’ll be one of only a handful of doctors providing care across two towns, which means your presence directly determines whether patients can access local services or need to travel long distances.
-
Farming families rely on the clinics for ongoing primary care, preventive health and acute issues that can’t wait for city appointments.
-
Aged care residents depend on daily medical input — your ward rounds and continuity of care are central to their wellbeing.
-
In emergency cases, you’re often the first and only line of care until retrieval arrives, giving you a visible, vital role in safeguarding the community.
-
The towns have a strong appreciation for their doctors — locums are seen as part of the local team, not just a stopgap — which means the impact of your work is noticed and valued.
Accommodation & Travel details:
-
Flights / Travel Assistance
• Travel support is available for locums (confirm specifics when booking)
• Most doctors drive — Lameroo and Pinnaroo are approx. 2.5 hours (200 km) east of Adelaide
• Vehicle access is essential as public transport in the region is very limited -
Accommodation
• GP House – Lameroo (on-site): 3-bedroom family home with fenced yard and 2-car garage. Family and pet friendly.
• Locum Flat – Lameroo (on-site): 1-bedroom self-contained unit with shared laundry.
• Townsend Unit – Lameroo (off-site): 2-bedroom self-contained unit with garage and fenced yard. Family and pet friendly.
• Allocation depends on availability and doctor preference, with options suited to both solo locums and those travelling with family.
Things to see & do in Lameroo & Pinarroo:
-
Wide Open Spaces: Classic Mallee country with big skies, flat horizons and star-filled nights — a complete change of pace from the city.
-
Conservation Parks: Murray-Sunset National Park (Vic) and Billiatt Conservation Park (SA) are nearby, offering bushwalking, birdwatching and a dose of quiet wilderness.
-
Local Produce & Markets: Seasonal farm stalls and community markets give you a taste of the region’s grain, lamb and local goods.
-
Day Trips: Easy access to the Riverland for wineries and water activities, or head across the border into Victoria for small-town exploring.
-
Community Life: Both towns host regular sporting events, footy and netball games, and small but welcoming pubs — a good way to meet locals.
-
Family-Friendly: Quiet streets, parks and open spaces make it a safe and easy option for doctors travelling with partners or kids.
DNA Healthcare success stories
We’ve had the pleasure of placing thousands of healthcare professionals at hospitals and organisations across Australia. Hear about their experience with DNA Healthcare.
Genuine and unfiltered review: I am a Registered Nurse and have worked with multiple agencies. However, I have never felt as amazed as I do with the contract I am currently on with DNA Nursing Agency. Both Aruna and Sophie are wonderful. Since my first day with the agency, Aruna has consistently checked in to make sure I am doing well and addressed any issues I might have. No matter if it’s the weekend, she always answers my calls and happily resolves any concerns.
Nurse
DNA Medical Recruitment & Team members have been amazing to work with. Excellent services of support provided from start to finish for all of my contracts.
Special thank you to Martin! His professionalism has been exceptional. Martin’s positive encouragement and support given me the confidence to apply for and helped with new contracts. Always prompt, friendly and approachable to accommodate any needs.
Nurse
Good experience with DNA. Will and Andrew with whom I have dealt with work extremely hard to help finalise locums, very reliable and good communicators.
Doctor
If you are thinking about commencing a travel nurse journey, then I can highly recommend Lucy and the Team at DNA. I had tried on and off for almost 12mths and then it was Lucy who was able to secure my role in Tasmania.
The knowledge from the outset and the assistant along the way has been incredible. Nothing is too much trouble and the team are only ever a phone call/email away
Nurse
Chloe from DNA is an excellent recruiter. She communicates clearly from start to finish and provides constructive feedback and preparation for the interview. Her support was instrumental in making the experience both memorable and positive for me. I highly recommend hiring or leveraging her expertise.
Nurse
I have been with DNA Recruitment for almost a year now and my agent Ciara has been nothing but helpful along the way. She made the initial move to Australia less daunting and has always been there ready and willing to answer any of my questions. She’s locked in every nursing contract I have wanted, has taken the stress away and honestly has made my life so much easier. Thank you Ciara for being so amazing!
Nurse
I had a wonderful experience with DNA Recruitment Healthcare Agency. The agency is professional, supportive, and provides excellent opportunities for healthcare professionals.
I would especially like to acknowledge Aruna, who guided me throughout my entire journey. Aruna helped me with every step, from finding the right opportunities to settling into my nursing contract. She is extremely kind, polite, and always cooperative. Her support, encouragement, and positive attitude made a big difference in my experience.
Nurse
Beverley is the best agent for me – she responds efficiently, goes above and beyond in finding me the most suitable shifts, checks up on me to make sure I’m okay almost daily and you can tell she genuinely wants the best for you. Thank you so much, Beverley, for making everything so smooth for me!
Doctor
