ABC North West Qld

Topic: Rural and Remote Communities

Sat 25 Jul 2026 at 11:27am

The Ngarnal Health Clinic on Mornington Island provides primary healthcare to residents.

In short:

The Royal Flying Doctor Service partners with Ngarnal to provide primary healthcare five days a week on Mornington Island.

The walk-in clinic is the first of its kind collaboration across Australia.

What's next?

An Indigenous health expert says community-led care can be replicated across the country.

A remote Gulf community has taken control of its health care in an Australian-first move.

Nearly 40 per cent of Mornington Island's 1,200 residents live with one or more chronic diseases.

Mornington Island is located off the coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria and is only accessible via plane or ferry.

The community's death rate remains significantly higher than the rest of Queensland.

The Ngarnal Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service took over primary healthcare delivery on the Island last month.

Ngarnal Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service opened its doors in July.

Ngarnal chair Susan Sewter said previous healthcare on the island had consistently failed residents.

Healthy residents can participate in education, employment, and training.

The community relied on others, but now it's time to step up.

The delivery model is the first of its kind in Australia.

Previous providers relied on locums and offered limited services.

The new system promises permanent, long-term staff on the island.

A rotating team of RFDS doctors and nurses provide healthcare with the Ngarnal Community Clinic team.

Consistency in medical service is key.

The same doctors and nurses will build a relationship with the community.

RFDS will deliver clinical care on the island for the next two years.

'Unique' model has replication potential

RFDS Primary Healthcare Medical Lead Yvonne Doveren said staff will work on rotating five-day rosters.

The partnership with an Aboriginal community-controlled health service is unique.

Rotating staff will fly into Mornington Island ensuring consistent care each week.

Residents are slowly coming into the clinic, and connections are being built.

The new clinic aims to provide solid primary health care.

This style of healthcare is critical for remote parts of the state.

The collaboration aims to improve the overall wellbeing of residents.

The model of care is new, providing primary health care in a different way.

Community-led importance

University of Queensland senior research fellow Stephen Harfield said community-led care provides better health outcomes.

Culture is central to delivering care.

Stephen Harfield says community-led care can improve health outcomes in remote Aboriginal regions.

Receiving care from the local community can positively impact health and wellbeing.

The walk-in aspect of the clinic can improve how residents engage with their health.

If the partnership is successful, it can benefit other remote communities.

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