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
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.
Location:
Berri, Riverland Mallee Coorong LHN, SA
Payment Frequency:
Weekly payroll via DNA or monthly via Health Service
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.
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
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Inpatient Unit: 40 beds (medical, surgical, rehab, mental health, maternity/birthing suites)
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Operating Theatres: 3 fully equipped theatres
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Specialist Services: Oncology (4 chemotherapy recliners), Renal Dialysis (4 chairs), outpatient consulting suites, onsite pharmacy
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Emergency Department: 10 cubicles, 2 resuscitation rooms, 4-bed Extended Emergency Care Unit (EECU)
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Imaging: X-ray, CT, ultrasound, MRI
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Pathology: Onsite weekdays and limited weekends, with emergency on-call cover
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Allied Health & Support: Nursing, visiting specialists (surgery, obstetrics, anaesthetics, mental health, oncology, renal dialysis)
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
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:
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Outdoors & River Life: Boating, kayaking, water-skiing, fishing, and riverside walks. Lake Bonney is nearby for swimming and sunsets.
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Food & Wine: The Riverland is known for its wineries, distilleries, craft breweries, and farmers’ markets showcasing local produce.
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Sport & Recreation: Local clubs for golf, tennis, netball, and football, plus gyms, pools, and walking tracks.
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Lifestyle: Affordable housing, a relaxed pace, and more sunshine than the Gold Coast.
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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.
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
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