The Mount Barker Hub of the Obstetrics & Gynaecology Education and Training (OGET) Program is playing a pivotal role in building a stronger, more connected rural health workforce across South Australia.
From November 2023 to February 2025, the Mount Barker hub has delivered 25 training sessions across 11 regional sites, reaching 379 participants. Attendees have included GP Obstetricians & Anaesthetists, midwives, trainee medical officers (TMOs), emergency department staff, and both medical and midwifery students.
What sets this program apart is its delivery model: training is provided by a dedicated team of specialist obstetricians and gynaecologists, alongside experienced midwifery facilitators—all of whom live and work in regional South Australia. Their lived experience brings depth and relevance to the training, offering practical insight into the realities of providing care in rural and remote settings.
The comprehensive curriculum covers a wide range of high-impact topics including:
- Antepartum and postpartum haemorrhage
- Maternal sepsis
- Caesarean section at full dilatation
- Unexpected breech delivery
- Operative birth decision-making
- Pre-eclampsia and trauma in pregnancy
- VBAC in rural communities
- Placenta accreta
Training sessions have been successfully delivered in the following regional locations:
- Mount Barker
- Berri
- Ceduna
- Clare / Wallaroo
- Gawler
- Murray Bridge
- Port Augusta / Whyalla
- Port Lincoln
- Port Pirie
- Victor Harbor
In response to emerging clinical priorities, the program expanded in 2025 to include five dedicated workshops on Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries (OASI)—further supporting upskilling in this important area of maternity care.
By offering locally led, context-aware training, the Mount Barker OGET hub is not only building clinical capacity but also fostering a connected and confident rural maternity workforce—one that is better equipped to meet the needs of women and families across South Australia.
