Presentation to RACE Board and RMCLHN Renmark campus-June 4 2026

Earlier this month, the Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence (RACE) Board, alongside Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network (RMCLHN) executives and board members, came together at the Flinders Renmark campus.

The day commenced with board meetings at the Renmark campus, followed by a series of presentations highlighting the important work being undertaken across rural health education, research, training, and workforce development. They also had the opportunity to tour the campus, simulation centre, lecture rooms and the anatomy lab.

At the start of the afternoon’s presentations, Professor Paul Worley, RMCLHN Executive Director of Clinical Innovation, shared his vision for a sustainable rural health workforce that enables rural communities to thrive. He spoke about the importance of increasing the number of doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals choosing to work in rural and remote settings, highlighting that rurally based education and training is so important to turn this vision into reality.

Attendees heard from a range of leaders across rural health and education, including Dr Hamish Eske, Director of Clinical Training for the Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence program; Dr Amy Mendham, Senior Researcher at RACE; Associate Professor James Padley, SA Rural Medical Program (SARM) Lead; Tori Edmonds, Rural Education Programs Team Manager; Associate Professor Karleen Thornton, Senior Lecturer Nursing; and Dr Ali Dymmott, Academic Lead Rural Allied Health.

The presentations showcased the breadth of rural health training opportunities and the collective commitment to developing a highly skilled and supported workforce. Key themes included the importance of interprofessional collaboration, supporting students throughout their training journey, rural generalist pathways, excellence in education and primary care, and expanding placement opportunities.

A Q&A session with presenters and medical students who shared their own experiences, offering valuable insights into the benefits and opportunities of training in rural communities.

At the sessions close, Wayne Champion, Chief Executive Officer of RMCLHN, thanked presenters and attendees for their contributions and reflected on the importance of turning vision into action.

“Vision, followed by action and growth, brings retention,” Wayne shared, reinforcing the shared commitment to building a strong and sustainable rural health workforce for the future.

Through partnerships such as RACE, RMCLHN, and Flinders University’s rural training programs, rural communities continue to benefit from innovative education, research, and workforce initiatives that support better health outcomes across regional South Australia.