This program was first introduced late in the 2000 – 2001 financial year. The Federal Minister for Health determined that there was an extreme lack of allied health services to support General Practice in Rural Australia and allocated $46M over four years. The funding was allocated to rural divisions to provide additional allied health services to communities whose RRMA category was in the range RRMA 4 – 7.
The EPDGP Management Committee decided to target the rural and remote parts of the Eyre Peninsula Division. Port Lincoln was not included because it already had a range of services available Whyalla (RRMA 3) was outside the guidelines. A thorough survey of the needs across the division was undertaken and a range of possibilities was investigated before services put in place.

Currently the Division provides Rural Health Counselling services to Eastern Eyre (Cleve, Cowell, Kimba), Lower Eyre (Tumby Bay, Cummins) and Mid West Health (Wudinna, Streaky Bay, Elliston). We also provide the services of a psychologist to Eastern Eyre, Lower Eyre, Ceduna and Mid West and a Physiotherapy Service to Lower and Mid West as part of the program. We also provide funding to assist the two major aboriginal health services to improve their rates of Health Assessments and Care Planning in their health centres.

For information about the RPHS program and how to contact the service providers involved, please contact the Division.
EPDGP