Locum at Riverland General Hospital, SA

About Riverland Hospital

Riverland General Hospital (RGH) is the main referral hospital for South Australia’s Riverland and Murraylands, supporting a population of around 70,000. With 40 inpatient beds, operating theatres, maternity care, oncology and dialysis services, and a modern Emergency Department, RGH is the cornerstone of healthcare for the region.

Key facts about Riverland General Hospital

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Hours and On-call

  • Shifts: Early 08:00–18:00 | Mid 11:00–21:00 | Late 13:00–23:00 | Night 22:30–08:30
  • Senior (PGY5+): Runs resus/intubations; in-charge overnight.
  • RMO: Works with senior/consultant; covers wards overnight.
  • Coverage: 1 Senior + 1 RMO rostered overnight.
  • Support: Anaesthetist on-call 24/7; consultants available via tertiary hospitals; MedSTAR retrievals for transfers.
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Location:

Berri, Riverland Mallee Coorong LHN, SA

Frame 40803

Payment Frequency:

Weekly payroll via DNA or monthly via Health Service

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Orientation

  • System training: All doctors must complete Sunrise EMR training (online modules + 4-hour face-to-face session) before starting.
  • First day: Local induction and handover, covering escalation pathways, referral processes, and emergency contacts.
  • Introductions: Meet the ED leadership, senior doctors, nursing team, allied health, and admin staff.
  • Practical setup: System access, accommodation handover, and local information provided.
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Why work at Riverland General  Hospital

  • Variety & Autonomy: At RGH you’ll practice in a broad rural/generalist setting — from acute medical, surgical, maternity, to oncology and ED — meaning you get to build and sharpen skills that might take much longer elsewhere.
  • Strong Support & Team Culture: You’re not alone. Seniors, consultants, visiting specialists, and allied health are all part of the mix. There’s 24/7 on-site senior and RMO coverage, consultant escalation, and retrieval support via MedSTAR.
  • Leadership & Teaching Opportunities: There’s room to step into leadership roles within the ED, supervise junior staff and medical students, and contribute meaningfully to education and mentorship in a regional setting.
  • Community Impact: Working here means your work counts. RGH is a key referral hospital for a large population across Riverland and Murraylands. You’ll see the direct benefit of your efforts in smaller rural communities that rely heavily on the hospital’s services.
  • Lifestyle & Location: The Riverland and Murraylands offer a welcoming rural lifestyle — warm weather, great outdoor recreation, affordable housing, food and wine culture, and a sense of belonging in a close-knit community.

The facilities and services at RGH

  • Inpatient Unit: 40 beds (medical, surgical, rehab, mental health, maternity/birthing suites)

  • Operating Theatres: 3 fully equipped theatres

  • Specialist Services: Oncology (4 chemotherapy recliners), Renal Dialysis (4 chairs), outpatient consulting suites, onsite pharmacy

  • Emergency Department: 10 cubicles, 2 resuscitation rooms, 4-bed Extended Emergency Care Unit (EECU)

  • Imaging: X-ray, CT, ultrasound, MRI

  • Pathology: Onsite weekdays and limited weekends, with emergency on-call cover

  • Allied Health & Support: Nursing, visiting specialists (surgery, obstetrics, anaesthetics, mental health, oncology, renal dialysis)

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Complexities, inpatients, and ED presentations

Inpatients:

  • 40-bed capacity across medical, surgical, rehabilitation, maternity, and mental health.
  • Case mix includes acute medical and surgical patients, obstetrics, rehabilitation, and mental health admissions.
  • Doctors are responsible for ward rounds, admissions, and discharge planning alongside nursing and allied health teams.

Emergency Department:

  • Over 15,000 presentations annually.
  • Broad spectrum: general medicine, trauma, cardiac (including STEMI thrombolysis), stroke, surgical and paediatric presentations.
  • Night RMO also covers inpatient wards in addition to ED presentations.

Complexity:

  • Regular exposure to time-critical emergencies and stabilisation prior to retrieval.
  • Complex cases managed with local consultant support and escalation to tertiary hospitals when required.
  • MedSTAR retrievals provide transfer pathways for high-acuity patients.

Team & Support

  • Emergency Department: 1 Senior + 1 RMO rostered overnight, with strong nursing support.
  • On-site Support: Senior doctor presence 24/7; RMO cover for ED and wards; anaesthetist on-call 24/7 for airway support.
  • Consultant Backup: Escalation available via local consultants and tertiary referral hospitals in Adelaide.
  • Visiting Specialists: Surgery, obstetrics, anaesthetics, mental health, oncology, renal dialysis.
  • Leadership & Oversight: Local Director of Medical Services and ED leadership team available for clinical and professional support.
  • Allied Health: Strong multidisciplinary team including nurses, pharmacists, physios, social workers, and Aboriginal liaison staff.

Hospital team and culture:

A practical and supportive bunch - Doctors are welcomed as part of the team from day one.  There's a strong emphasis on collaboration and clear communication and the Seniors ensure they are approachable.

Mental health support:

Access to both EAP and DNA's partnership with MyMirror 
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Impact on local community:

Riverland General Hospital is the referral hub for a catchment of around 70,000 people, making it the backbone of healthcare across the Riverland and Murraylands. Smaller rural towns rely on RGH for emergency cover, maternity services, and specialist care that would otherwise mean long travel to Adelaide

Accommodation & Travel details:

Doctors are provided with hospital-arranged accommodation off-site but only a short distance from RGH. The units are self-contained, with kitchen and laundry facilities, Wi-Fi, and free parking included.

Flights are organised to and from Adelaide, with airport transfers arranged locally. A fleet vehicle or hire car is available for use during placements, making travel around the Riverland easy and convenient.

Things to see & do in Berri:

Berri sits on the banks of the Murray River and is the heart of South Australia’s Riverland. Outside of work, you’ll find plenty to explore:

  • Outdoors & River Life: Boating, kayaking, water-skiing, fishing, and riverside walks. Lake Bonney is nearby for swimming and sunsets.

  • Food & Wine: The Riverland is known for its wineries, distilleries, craft breweries, and farmers’ markets showcasing local produce.

  • Sport & Recreation: Local clubs for golf, tennis, netball, and football, plus gyms, pools, and walking tracks.

  • Lifestyle: Affordable housing, a relaxed pace, and more sunshine than the Gold Coast.

  • Day Trips: Easy access to Barmera, Renmark, Loxton, and Waikerie, each with their own wineries, festivals, and riverfront attractions.

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.

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Candidate

Beverley Anne from DNA Medical Recruitment was a pleasure to deal with. Honest, efficient and professional at all times.

Dave KC

Doctor

Candidate

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!

Aminah Razley

Doctor

Candidate

I couldn’t recommend Bev the team at DNA Recruitment more highly.

Having been away from hospital practice for 2 years, I was a little nervous stepping back into acute medicine. The team were very understanding and supportive and found a well-paid locum job in a very welcoming team in a Regional Hospital. There was always good communication, arranging all the paperwork and constantly checking in to see how the job was going, and the accounts team were very happy to work with my requests to enable sacrifice of pay to increase Super contribution.

A great experience. I would recommend to any who are looking to engage in locum practice to contact DNA Recruit.

Ben Harkin

Doctor

Candidate

Bev was recommended to me by another doctor, and I can see why. From our very first contact, she has been warm, encouraging, and extremely helpful. I’ve had some difficult personal circumstances, which I was afraid would affect my ability to work. Bev has gone above and beyond to find me work, and been incredibly supportive throughout the process.

I’ve worked with several locum agencies in the past, and most of them just do the bare minimum (which I don’t begrudge). But Bev has been an absolute joy to have as my agent, and I’ve already referred another colleague to her. Even Veronika in payroll has been very helpful, friendly, and accommodating. I haven’t worked with anyone else in DNA Recruit, but so far I have only good things to say about them.

Ariel Quahe

Doctor

Candidate

Thank you Bey you’re adorable. I’m sure you appreciate how competitive the recruitment market is and it’s no secret i have dealt with several agencies (who often advertise the same opportunities) – but one by one shed them in favour of you because in addition to being so damn professional you have a genuine bedside manner which helps to make the tedious process of organising things trip after trip that bit easier – a fact which has not gone unnoticed, and I am grateful for.

Dr David Khaicy

Anaesthetic Locum

Candidate

Thank you Bev, you are amazing! I am impressed with how quickly you managed and sort things out! Thanks for advocating for me.

Dr Sambridhi Adhikari

Doctor

Candidate

DNA Medical Recruitment provide a warm, caring service to Doctors, and they are an absolute pleasure to deal with. Bev is my consultant, and I could not ask any more of her. She is always ready to help, nothing is an issue and she bends over backwards to ensure that I am moving to a position that suits me. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending DNA to any of our colleagues, whether it be nursing or medical. Thank you Bev for all that you do.

Penelope McLernon

Doctor

Candidate

I have worked with David over the last year and he is professional, reliable and always keeps me up to date with work matters. David also responds to emails and phone calls promptly which assists me with managing my work schedules. There were occasions in which David had to chase the primary employer for clarification few hours be for my shift, and David has come through with the necessary clarification. I would highly recommend David’s leadership and honesty when it comes to managing your locum placement.

Dr Arul Sivanesan

Anaesthetic specialist

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