King Island RHTS


	Location: Campbell Town Dover Flinders Island George Town King Island Nubeena Oatlands Queenstown Scottsdale Sheffield Smithton St Helens St Marys Swansea

King Island Teaching Site

The King Island Rural Health Teaching Site is situated in the picturesque town of Currie, the major centre for the Island's fishing, farming, and dairy industries. The RHTS is within walking distance of Currie's shops, services and the King Island Multi-Purpose Centre. The RHTS provides high quality hostel type accommodation.

About King Island
King Island Health Services

About King Island

Population Characteristics

The population of King Island is 1632 (2004).

King Island Statistical Local Area 2004, Line Graph

King Island is situated in western Bass Strait and is approximately 58km long and 21km wide. The main township is Currie and there are two smaller towns, Grassy Harbour and the seaside village of Naracoopa.

Currie Harbour

The landscape is generally flat apart from some small coastal hills. The climate is moderate; frosts are rare and the temperature rarely climbs above 30 degrees C.

King Island is best known for its high quality pastures which produce some of Australia's finest dairy and beef products. Lobster and abalone are flown live to restaurants of Melbourne and Sydney, while local kelp is dried and crushed for export to Scotland.

Each year King Island plays host to large numbers of tourists each who are attracted to its spectacular coastline, unspoilt beaches and friendly people.

King Island Statistical Local Area 2004, Pie Graph

Regional Health Indicators

High hospital admissions for accidents, poisonings and violence and respiratory system diseases

For more information on King Island visit the websites below:

Hint: The King Island Dairy sells a wide range of premium cheeses at very reasonable prices.

King Island Health Services

King Island Multi-Purpose Centre

The King Island Multi-Purpose Centre is located in Currie and has 6 acute care beds, 8 nursing home beds, and 6 hostel beds. The aged care facility received 3 years accreditation in February 2003. The MPC has an emergency stabilisation bed, and access to the Royal Flying Doctor Service for emergencies that need transporting off the Island.

Acute cases are varied and include farm and industrial accidents, motor vehicle accidents, cardiac and respiratory emergencies, paediatric problems, and various kinds of infections.

The MPC treats numerous outpatients and nurses assist the doctors to run the weekend clinics. King Island has two GPs and GP services are contracted to River Medical in Perth, WA. The Medical Clinic is attached to the MPC.

The Multi-Purpose Centre also incorporates:

a Day Care Centre which operates twice a week;
a Community Health Centre operating five days a week;
a Maternal and Child Health Centre which is open one day a week;
a Dental Clinic operating one day a month; and
regular Chiropractic, Optometry, Podiatry and Well Women’s Clinics.

The Multi-Purpose Centre employs a full-time Health Promotion Officer who organises health promotion activities in the Centre and in the community.