Deniliquin Medical Centre Lease - At a Glance

Edward River Council has secured the future operation of the Deniliquin Medical Centre and its existing workforce by awarding the lease to a group of experienced local doctors.

An independent panel (including four independent medical members) assessed four strong expressions of interest, and Rivergum Rural Health Hub Pty Ltd was selected by Council to operate the Centre.

Founding partners Dr Ben James, Dr Rachel James, Dr Ian Carey and Caitlin Morona will take an active role in the operation of the Centre, including Caitlin as Chief Executive Officer.

Rivergum Rural Health CEO Caitlin Morona said the group was proud to have been selected to operate the Centre.

“Rivergum Rural Health is locally owned and doctor led. Our focus is on ensuring Deniliquin has a stable, high-quality medical centre that the community can rely on for many years to come.

“We would like to sincerely thank the current clinic staff, with particular thanks to our new doctors, Dr Sammani and Dr Karo. Their professionalism and commitment to patients throughout a significant period of change has been outstanding, and we are very pleased that they will be continuing with the practice. Their experience and relationships with patients are central to a smooth transition.”

Rivergum’s immediate priority is ensuring existing patients experience a seamless transition.

“While our long-term aim is to actively welcome new patients, we want to assure existing patients that they will continue to be cared for by the same doctors and staff from day one, with no disruption to their existing treatment,” said Ms Morona.

“Over the course of the lease, Rivergum aims to progressively introduce a walk-in clinic, provide additional residential aged-care services, urgent-care consults, and expand women’s health, paediatric and chronic-condition care. We also intend to recruit a nurse practitioner, with a recruitment drive for new registrar doctors to commence mid next year.

“We aim to build a centre that attracts visiting specialists and allied health professionals and supports the training of the next generation of rural doctors.”

Mayor Ashley Hall welcomed the selection as great news for the Edward River community.

“We’re absolutely delighted with this outcome,” Cr Hall said.

“Council is confident that these experienced local doctors will provide a foundation of growth for the Medical Centre and allow existing patients to be well cared for by doctors they know. A key factor in the success of Rivergum’s application is that the group will not only provide continuity of care, but also actively recruit new medical staff and bring new services to support our community into the future.”

Ochre Health has welcomed the appointment of the new operators. Ochre Health Executive Patrick Dwyer said they will continue to see current patients at the Deniliquin Medical Centre until the handover date.

“We will ensure there is a seamless handover and keep our operations going to allow time for Rivergum to complete a smooth onboarding period including the transfer of patient records. Patients will continue to see their Doctors, so they can rest assured that the same level of care will continue without interruption.”

Ms Morona also acknowledged the outgoing operator, Ochre Health.

“We thank Ochre Health for its service to the Deniliquin community and for its cooperation in working with us towards an orderly handover for patients and staff,” she concluded.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

About the EOI process

The Expression of Interest process was managed by a six-person panel, including four independent members with extensive experience in rural and regional healthcare service delivery governance and management, workforce planning, community services, procurement and probity. The panel considered each applicant's experience, capability and proposed service model, ensuring the process was transparent, fair and focused on securing the best possible outcome for the Edward River community.

Four submissions were received. Negotiations and due diligence were undertaken with the preferred provider, Rivergum Rural Health Hub Pty Ltd, and an agreement was reached between the parties with commercial details to be finalised.

About Rivergum Rural Health Hub

Rivergum Rural Health Hub Pty Ltd is a locally owned general practice established by four founders based in the Deniliquin district. Guided by its values of Care, Connection and Community, Rivergum is committed to delivering high-quality, sustainable primary health care for Deniliquin and the surrounding region.

Continuity of care. Rivergum Rural Health Hub places patient relationships at the centre of its model.Retaining the existing clinical, nursing and administrative team is central to Rivergum’s structure, preserving operational continuity, institutional knowledge and established patient relationships from day one. The structure is built around the existing experienced team already delivering care at the Deniliquin Medical Centre, with clearly defined clinical, nursing and administrative teams, to support and coordinate care for their patients.

Clinical leadership. The practice is led by rural generalist doctors who work across the Centre and Deniliquin Hospital, including emergency, obstetric and anaesthetic services. Rivergum is committed to high standards of clinical quality and safety, close collaboration with the hospital, and the training of medical students and registrars to build a sustainable local workforce.

Community engagement. Rivergum aims to be shaped by the community it serves. The practice will work closely with patients, Edward River Council, Deniliquin Hospital, Murrumbidgee Local Health District, Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network and local aged-care providers, and will take an active role in community health initiatives.

Visiting and allied health services. The Centre currently hosts a visiting skin cancer service, on-site pathology and on-site audiology. Rivergum aims to build on these services by developing a well-supported space for additional visiting specialists and allied health professionals, reducing the need for residents to travel for care.

Edward River Council is pleased to report a strong response to the Expression of Interest (EOI) process for the future operation of the Deniliquin Medical Centre, with four submissions received by the closing date. The respondents are Finley Regional Care Ltd, GP Super Clinic Pty Ltd, Ian Carey and R.J Campbell Pty Ltd. The strong level of interest is an encouraging sign and reflects the value of the Medical Centre and the importance of healthcare services to our community.

The applications will now undergo a thorough assessment process led by a six-person panel, including four independent members with extensive experience in healthcare governance, management, workforce planning, community services, procurement and probity. The panel will carefully consider each applicant's experience, capability and proposed service model, ensuring the process is transparent, fair and focused on securing the best possible outcome for the Edward River community.

Council remains committed to finding a sustainable model that supports strong local healthcare, continuity of GP services and improved access to healthcare close to home. Community members can be confident that a robust process is being followed, with decisions guided by expertise and the long-term needs of the region. For more detailed information, including next steps in the assessment process, please refer to the media release linked on this page.

Ochre Health and Edward River Council wish to reassure the Deniliquin community that both organisations are continuing to work together professionally and constructively as planning progresses for the transition of operator of the Deniliquin Medical Centre.

Both parties remain committed to ensuring patients, staff and the broader community receive clear information and support throughout the transition process. Our shared and overriding priority is continuity of healthcare services for the people of Deniliquin and the surrounding district.

Council is currently undertaking an Expression of Interest process to identify a future operator for the Deniliquin Medical Centre. During this period, representatives from Council and Ochre Health are maintaining regular communication and working collaboratively on practical transition planning.

Importantly, both organisations recognise the need for flexibility to support an orderly handover of services.

Affirming their initial commitment to Council to assist patient continuity, Ochre Health has confirmed they will continue operations at the Deniliquin Medical Centre for approximately six-weeks beyond 2 October 2026, with further flexibility should it be required. This will provide sufficient time for a future operator to complete a smooth onboarding period including the transfer of patient records, pending legal and confidentiality requirements.

Both organisations also acknowledge the understandable interest and concern that members of the community have expressed regarding future healthcare arrangements. We encourage community members to rely on information published directly by Council and Ochre Health, rather than commentary from third parties.

If people have questions, we welcome those conversations and will continue to provide information wherever we can, recognising that some contractual, commercial and privacy obligations limit what can be discussed publicly.

In the meantime, patients should continue to attend appointments as normal and access services in the usual manner.

Ochre Health and Edward River Council thank the community for its patience and understanding while this process is undertaken. We reaffirm the shared commitment to ensuring the continued provision of healthcare services within Deniliquin.

Contact ERC: medical.centre@edwardriver.nsw.gov.au
Visit: www.haveyoursay.edwardriver.nsw.gov.au/deniliquin-medical-centre-lease

Edward River Council has opened an Expression of Interest (EOI) process for qualified healthcare providers interested in delivering health and medical services from the Council-owned Deniliquin Medical Centre. The EOI aims to identify experienced organisations that can provide accessible, sustainable and high-quality healthcare services to meet the current and future needs of the Edward River community.

Council recognises the important role healthcare services play in supporting a healthy, connected and thriving community. Through the EOI process, Council is seeking innovative and patient-centred models of care that will strengthen healthcare delivery and improve health outcomes across the region. Mayor Ashley Hall said the process will help Council explore a range of options and determine the best long-term outcome for both the medical centre and local residents.

Expressions of Interest close at 10am on Wednesday, 19 August 2026. Interested providers can access the EOI documentation and further information here: Deniliquin Medical Centre EOI.
To ensure a fair and transparent process, all enquiries relating to the EOI must be directed to Council’s nominated contact person, CEO Jack Bond, at medical.centre@edwardriver.nsw.gov.au.