Mornington Island Hospital and Aboriginal Community Health Centre

Mornington Island is the largest of the North Wellesley Islands located in the Gulf of Carpentaria and is currently home to a community of approximately 1,005 people.

The Island achieved self-governance in 1978 and is now operated by the Mornington Shire Council. The Traditional Custodians of Mornington Island are the Lardil people. In total, 88 per cent of the population identify as Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Mornington Island Hospital is a remote Level 2 hospital under the Rural and Remote Clinical Services Capability Framework. The facility provides 24-hour acute inpatient and accident and emergency care. Staffing consists of a medical officer and registered nurses on each shift 24 hours a day, with administration support, cleaners and maintenance workers.

Following transition to community control, Gidgee Healing Aboriginal Medical Service provides primary and community health care from the community health building. Plans to expand the primary care facility are underway.

The model of care includes clinical review, health education and promotion programs. Examples of programs are Deadly Ears; Child and adult respiratory (lung health) care, provided by the Indigenous Respiratory Outreach Care Program; Women’s health and child health; Allied health services; Cardiac and respiratory services; Sexual Health; Alcohol and Other Drugs counselling; Maternal Health; Mental Health; Dental; Diabetes Education and Renal Services.

Several other outreach services are also provided including alcohol and other drugs counselling, maternal health, mental health, dental, diabetic education, nurse practitioner, renal services, mobile women’s health services and sexual health.