Health

Major hospitals are located in Whyalla, Port Lincoln and Ceduna. Eight smaller hospitals at Cummins, Elliston, Streaky Bay, Tumby Bay, Wudinna, Cleve, Cowell and Kimba provide a range of multi-purpose services.

Community health centres are provided in Port Lincoln, Tumby Bay, Cleve, Whyalla, Lock, Wudinna and Ceduna; and dedicated Indigenous health centres are located in Port Lincoln, Ceduna, Whyalla, Yalata, and Oak Valley.

Aged Care facilities are provided throughout the region at Whyalla, Port Lincoln, Ceduna, Cleve, Cowell, Cummins, Elliston, Kimba, Tumby Bay, Streaky Bay, and Wudinna.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service provides health services, patient transport, emergency evacuations and medical retrieval services across the broader region, primarily with critical patient transport to metropolitan Adelaide.

For further information see Country Health SA.

Education and Training

The region has numerous education and specialised training centres, which offer a diverse range of courses and employment-related programs. This includes 37 government and 5 private schools. 11 government secondary schools have Trade Training Centres which provide courses to address industry skills shortages in aquaculture, agriculture, cooking, construction, and engineering. 

Specialised secondary schools include:

  • Cleve Area School, Sims Farm. Sims Farm is a 400-hectare property specialising in dryland agricultural education for aspiring farmers. This is the largest school farm in regional South Australia and is managed commercially with a merino flock, prime lamb production and wheat, barley and oats enterprises. The school has boarding facilities and attracts students from across the Eyre Peninsula and rural South Australia.
  • Cowell Area School. The school provides a two-year aquaculture course that trains students for direct entry into the oyster industry. The training uses a 2-hectare research and development oyster lease and includes the purchase of spat and sale of on-grown oysters to market.

Tertiary education facilities include:

  • University of South Australia, Whyalla Campus – UniSA Whyalla Campus is the largest regional university campus in South Australia.  Offering a range of study options to suit the needs of the Eyre Peninsula community including Nursing, Midwifery, Social Work, Ageing and Disability, Human Services, Education (Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary), Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Diploma in Health, Foundation Studies or Aboriginal Pathway Program.  Students experience quality teaching, practical learning opportunities, and tailored support services to give them the skills to succeed in their unstoppable career.  Students can fit study around their life with flexible online and part-time study options.  Affordable on-campus accommodation is available for students travelling from the Eyre Peninsula to study at the Whyalla campus.
  • University of South Australia, Port Lincoln and Ceduna Study Centres – These centres provide specialised facilities for students studying in the Aboriginal Pathway Program, a unique, fee-free program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.  This pathway to university study will build student’s skills and confidence for undergraduate study in 18 months.  Students benefit from a culturally supportive environment with mentoring, small class sizes, and in-person or online study options.
  • Uni Hub Spencer Gulf – has a centre in Port Lincoln that provides the opportunity for people to study a range of tertiary courses without the need to relocate to a metropolitan area.  It provides students with the support, space, and technology to study individually or in groups.  Students may also receive face-to-face mentoring and tutorials to assist them achieve their academic goals.
  • TAFE SA Regional – Campuses are located in Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Ceduna, and Wudinna.  Training is also delivered throughout Eyre Peninsula in local libraries, council chambers, construction sites, wineries, restaurants, hotels, sports clubs, and in the workplace.
  • Minnipa Agriculture Centre – The 1,200 hectare farm is operated by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI). The facility conducts, monitors and analyses broad scale research development and extension (RDE) programs, and also supports AgTech development for low rainfall environments at the Minnipa demonstration farm.
  • Lincoln Marine Science Centre, Port Lincoln – The facility is managed by Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) and is a research centre for Flinders University, SARDI, and the PIRSA Shellfish Quality Assurance Program.  Activities at the centre include field and laboratory based marine research, courses and summer schools, conferences, meetings and workshops, and support for visiting scientists and research groups.
  • Australian Maritime and Fisheries Academy, Port Lincoln -The AMFA is the only industry owned and operated maritime, seafood and fishing industry development and training organisation in the Southern Hemisphere. The Academy provides courses for the operation of coastal vessels, from elementary sea safety to skippering large commercial vessels. Industry-based training for senior secondary school students wanting a career in the commercial fishing, aquaculture and maritime industries are also provided.