Moorundi and Mannum Medical team up to support the Aboriginal community
Two health services hope to provide better care to local Indigenous people by working together.
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Two health services have hosted a community consultation event at Mannum, at the top end of Ngarrindjeri country, inviting local residents to discuss ways to improve health care access and engagement for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The event, on February 20, marked an important step in strengthening collaboration between local health providers and the community, particularly in rural areas.
Moorundi Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service delivers holistic, culturally appropriate healthcare across the Murraylands, Fleurieu, and Adelaide Hills regions, offering services including GP consultations, chronic disease management, social and emotional wellbeing programs, and children’s health initiatives.
Its purpose-built health centre in Murray Bridge, officially opened last August, was designed in consultation with staff and elders to provide culturally safe care for elders, children, and families.
Community programs manager Nerylee Aston described the organisation’s wide-ranging programs: Po:rlar Ka:ngkun Tainkualun, play groups which embrace culture and aim to increase school readiness for children; Together Our Children Succeed, which aims to support older students to reach their education goals; elder care support; and chronic disease management through an integrated team care program, supporting clients to better manage their own health and linking them with other services if needed.
A cancer support worker, Kirsty-Lee, said her work was heavy, but deeply meaningful.
“I go with clients to their appointments, so they don’t feel alone,” she said.
“If they don’t understand the questions or medical terms, I help explain in a way that makes sense.
“It’s not just for the patient — it’s for the whole family.”
Moorundi also supported other initiatives, Ms Aston said, like Kai’s Run for DV, of which it was a gold sponsor.
“We try to support our community wherever we can,” she said.
She also highlighted an upcoming project: a community garden to be built beside Mannum Medical Centre.
“We plan to assist and provide support where we can, seeing how we can help the community,” she said.
The design of Mannum’s newly built medical centre emphasises comfort and wellbeing, with GP consultation rooms, a student study area, a staff lunchroom, and a relaxation space with a lawn.
That emphasised the clinic’s broader purpose, said senior GP and co-founder Stephen Napoli.
“I hope this becomes a place that feels safe … a place where everyone who walks in can feel that they belong,” he said.
“It’s the most challenging part, but also the most important.”
The clinic also features local artwork, including paintings by Jan Klose, photographs by Tyler Barker and Aboriginal artwork by Daniel Giles, including a pelican print, No:ri.
Giles’ creations will also extend to a large mural at the community garden, envisioned as a gathering space for schools, kindergartens, and local residents.
“Pelicans are a massive part of Mannum culture, so it’s only fitting this glorious animal be represented in the new space,” Dr Napoli said.
He added that the garden would include shared community areas, water systems, and learning spaces to foster connection.
Get-together builds a collaboration
The consultation event gave Moorundi and Mannum Medical Centre a chance to explore future collaboration, from shared care to improving access to health services.
Dr Napoli was clearly thrilled to share the vision for the community garden.
“We’re still working on it, and it will be a space for programs, connections, and learning,” he said.
“What we're doing today is to explore ways we can collaborate in the future … to see what we can provide for the Mannum Aboriginal community,” Ms Aston added.
The conversation reflected a shared energy and commitment to creating culturally safe, collaborative spaces that support health, learning, and community connection.
A respected Aboriginal elder from Palmer welcomed the outreach to Indigenous communities.
“Good information about events like this … hopefully now they've got my details, and I'll start getting information about it,” he said.
“Once we become aware … it’s about knowing what services are available, so that one day you can access them.”
Traditional knowledge could exist alongside modern healthcare, he suggested.
“We have our own nature system,” he said.
“We believe in plants, and many Indigenous people still use traditional medicine.
“The problem is many of these healing plants are disappearing, partly due to water and environmental issues.
“Being informed about modern health services is good – the more information you have, the better.”
Any community members interested in involvement, sharing ideas or practical support for the proposed Mannum community garden can contact Tash Dabinet at Mannum Medical on 7530 2320.
