Riverland Region Of South Australia Research Articles

Experimental use-wear patterns on silcrete, bottle glass and porcelain plate tools

Aboriginal people in Australia have used stone tools since first arrival about 65,000 years ago. After permanent European colonisation over 200 years ago people continued to use stone, but also incorporated new, introduced tool materials in novel ways. To understand how these introduced materials supplemented or replaced stone, we need new functional analyses and reference databases that compare experimental use-wear patterns on introduced materials with archaeological use-wear patterns. In the Riverland region of South Australia, silcrete and chert are common tool stones recovered from archaeological sites, but there is also evidence of introduced materials including glazed porcelain and bottle glass. Here, we report experimental use-wear patterns on silcrete, bottle glass and glazed porcelain plate tools. Tasks included processing wood, bone, skin or hide, meat and cattail reeds with a variety of tool motions. Results show that striations are more common on glass and glazed porcelain than on silcrete. The glazed porcelain, glass and silcrete experimental tools register distinctive use-wear patterns for some but not all tasks, and supplement previous functional studies of these materials.

Title: Selective limb removal pruning and reflective ground covers improve light and crop distributions in the lower zone of ‘Nonpareil’ almond trees but not total yield

Conventional planting and management systems for almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D. A. Webb) orchards involve trees trained from an early age to produce multiple large scaffold branches, which in mature orchards form closed light inefficient canopies. Treatments included a single round of selective limb removal pruning applied at the start of the research to remove the large scaffold branches that cause shading between trees. Treatments were applied to two groups of 5-year-old ‘Nonpareil’ trees on ‘Nemaguard’ rootstock planted at 6 × 3 m spacing (556 trees/ha) in the Riverland region of South Australia. Each year, reflective ground covers were installed beneath one group of pruned trees to reflect light back into the lower canopy zones. A third group of control trees were left unpruned without reflective ground covers. Yield, kernel quality and light transmission within canopy zones were monitored for 3 subsequent years. Results demonstrated that in control trees, less than 10% of incoming sunlight was transmitted to lower canopy zones. This was insufficient to ensure cropping in these zones. Although pruning selected limbs and using reflective ground covers increased the amount of light and thus yields in the lower canopy zones, this was not sufficient to increase total tree yield nor improve kernel quality. Furthermore, the fruit in these lower zones were not ready for harvest until 2–3 weeks after the main crop.

Using ecological variables to predict Ross River virus disease incidence in South Australia.

Ross River virus (RRV) disease is Australia's most widespread vector-borne disease causing significant public health concern. The aim of this study was to identify the ecological covariates of RRV risk and to develop epidemic forecasting models in a disease hotspot region of South Australia. Seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average models were used to predict the incidence of RRV disease in the Riverland region of South Australia, an area known to have a high incidence of the disease. The model was developed using data from January 2000 to December 2012 then validated using disease notification data on reported cases for the following year. Monthly numbers of the mosquito Culex annulirostris (β=0.033, p<0.001) and total rainfall (β=0.263, p=0.002) were significant predictors of RRV transmission in the study region. The forecasted RRV incidence in the predictive model was generally consistent with the actual number of cases in the study area. A predictive model has been shown to be useful in forecasting the occurrence of RRV disease, with increased vector populations and rainfall being important factors associated with transmission. This approach may be useful in a public health context by providing early warning of vector-borne diseases in other settings.

Initial results and observations on a radiocarbon dating program in the Riverland region of South Australia

This paper presents a preliminary occupation chronology for the Riverland region of South Australia, based on 31 radiocarbon age determinations. This region has represented a significant geographic gap in understanding occupation chronologies for the broader Murray-Darling Basin. The dating forms part of an ongoing research program exploring the long-term engagements of Aboriginal people with the habitat mosaics of the central River Murray corridor. Dating targets were selected on the basis of their landscape context. Results relate occupation evidence to an evolving riverine landscape through the period extending from approximately 29 ka to the late Holocene. These results include the first pre-Last Glacial Maximum ages returned on the River Murray in South Australia and extend the known Aboriginal occupation of the Riverland by approximately 22,000 years.

Emergency rural obstetric transfers in South Australia: a review of the clinical and precipitating factors.

The provision of critical management of obstetric emergencies is a vital service for rural women and their families. Emergency obstetric transfers are indispensable to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity because local rural hospitals often do not have the resources or expertise to manage both maternal and neonatal outcomes. However, the transfer of a rural pregnant woman to a higher level, tertiary perinatal centre (TPC) is often stressful for the patient and costly for health services. Currently, little is known about the main reasons for obstetric transfers in rural South Australia, and there is even less information about the management of mothers and babies once they arrive at their destination. The present guidelines for informing the necessity of transferring from a rural or remote area to a TPC are unclear. This study aims to describe the clinical reasons for obstetric transfers from a rural area in South Australia and explore predictive factors of likelihood of delivery on transfer. Additionally, this study aims to determine the outcomes of transfers in terms of location of delivery, timing of delivery and to explore the association between delivery after transfer and clinical reasons for transfer. All women from the Riverland region of South Australia who were transferred antenatally at >20 weeks gestational age for an acute admission to a TPC over a 5-year period were included in a retrospective review. Participants were determined from hospital coding data, and medical case notes were retrieved for all participants. The demographic and clinical data, including details of the emergency presentation and outcomes of women transferred to a tertiary hospital, were analysed with descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation). A logistic regression was performed for predictive factors associated with delivery on transfer. A total of 160 patients were transferred antenatally. A minority of participants delivered on admission (35%). Of the women who were discharged undelivered, 43% eventually delivered at their rural hospital and the remainder delivered later in a tertiary hospital as part of a planned admission. The most common diagnoses for transfer were preterm labour, premature preterm rupture of membranes, antepartum haemorrhage and placental disorders. Delivery on transfer was associated with preterm premature rupture of membranes and pre-eclampsia. Likelihood of delivery on transfer was not increased with preterm gestation, cervical dilation or other presenting diagnosis. There was not an association of increased number of indications for transfer and likelihood of delivering after transfer. This study suggests that the rural doctor workforce in the Riverland region appears to be well skilled at identifying obstetric emergencies despite the lack of guidance around what constitutes a high risk perinatal situation. Furthermore, this study quantifies the number of women who would potentially require support services associated with rural perinatal transfers from this area. There was a comparatively lower rate of delivery on transfer and, as such, these women eventually delivered their babies either at their hospital of origin or returned to a metropolitan hospital as part of a planned admission for delivery. Further research is needed about the practical implications of transferring pregnant women to tertiary centres and clinical decision-making tools to improve this process.

A Dynamic Regional Model of Irrigated Perennial Crop Production

Economic analyses of regional irrigated agricultural production typically make little distinction between perennial and annual crops despite the distinctive characteristics of perennials. Such factors include high planting costs, lags in production, long lifespan, and potentially long-lasting impacts of input use and weather shocks. This study establishes a fully dynamic model of irrigated perennial crop production in a regional context where annuals are also grown. Perennial crop area is modeled as a vintage capital stock with age-dependent yields. The model is applied to the Riverland region of South Australia to examine the possible effects of both temporary and permanent changes in water supplies and the establishment of water prices, which is then used to estimate agricultural water demand. The model demonstrates that annuals are fallowed during drought so that perennial crops may be preserved and how, due to the fixed costs of re-planting perennials, annual crops are used to smooth profits while recovering from a severe shock. In all scenarios, a very slow rate of convergence to the steady state is found, highlighting the need for models that capture the transitional dynamics of agricultural land use in areas with significant perennial production.

Farmers' perceptions of health in the Riverland region of South Australia: 'If it's broke, fix it'.

To explore perceptions of health among South Australian farmers. Descriptive qualitative study, using semi-structured interviews. Two rural towns in the Riverland region of South Australia. Fifteen adults involved in farming within the Riverland region of South Australia, from a variety of farming industries; age range 23-70 years old; 53% male, 47% female. Perceptions and definitions of health. Participants described an ecological understanding of health across individual, farm, and community domains. Participants perceived health as being able to function and complete farm work. Participants reported that farm work helped to maintain fitness, but the multiple stress and hazards associated with farming had a significant influence on health. Participants described how health was influenced by community activities and social support from friends and families. Women were reported to take a lead role in health. Health providers can frame interventions to resonate with the perceptions of health held by people, shaped and formed by the context of farming. Further research is needed to explore farmers' perceptions of health in different locations, from different industries and from a range of age groups.

Validity of self-reported sedentary time differs between Australian rural men engaged in office and farming occupations

ABSTRACTRural Australians have a higher likelihood of chronic disease than urban Australians, particularly male farmers. Chronic disease has been associated with occupational sedentary time. The aim was to validate the self-report of sedentary time in men in contrasting rural occupations. Farmers (n = 29) and office workers (n = 28), age 30–65 years, were recruited from the Riverland region of South Australia. Daily sedentary time and number of breaks in sedentary time were self-reported and measured objectively using body-worn inclinometers. Correlational analyses were conducted between self-reported and objectively measured variables, separately by occupation. There was a significant correlation between self-reported and objectively measured sedentary time in the whole sample (r = 0.44, P = 0.001). The correlation among office workers was significant (r = 0.57, P = 0.003) but not among farmers (r = 0.08, P = 0.68). There were no significant correlations between self-reported and measured number of breaks in sedentary time, for the whole sample (rho = −0.03, P = 0.83), office workers (rho = 0.17, P = 0.39) and farmers (rho = −0.22, P = 0.25). In conclusion, the validity of self-report of sedentary behaviours by farmers was poor. Further research is needed to develop better performing self-report instruments or more accessible objective measures of sedentary behaviour in this population.

Developing a date industry in Australia

The date palm was introduced into Australia by seed in the late nineteenth century. Despite favourable conditions in several parts of the country, plantation scale date fruit production did not occur. Later introductions of offshoots and more recently tissue cultured plantlets set the stage for a new effort to establish a date industry. The Riverland region of South Australia is suitable for commercial production, although the climate may not be ideally hot enough to ripen late ripening varieties. The Gurra Downs Date Company was created in 1996 with a focus on early maturing tissue-cultured varieties bearing fruits which can be consumed fresh at khalal and at rutab (ripe) stage. Light commercial production of Barhee and Medjool fruits began in 2010 and continues to expand and will include other cultivars in the coming years. Success of the venture could stimulate plantation date growing in other parts of the country and Australia could become self-sufficient in date fruits and enter the international markets taking advantage of counter-seasonal production.

A web-based approach to improve collation and communication of complex soil-landscape data with examples relating to agricultural production, environmental degradation and mineral exploration

This paper provides examples of how to use web-based techniques to organize and communicate large quantities of complex and varied soil and landscape data. It describes a straightforward method for creating an interactive, web-based data site that can be used to facilitate more rapid and effective communication between project staff (scientists and managers) and clients (farmers and land managers). This can facilitate teleconferences between team members and be used to communicate information and ideas. Consequently, it reduces costs associated with travel and makes it easier to interpret data during collection. The web-based data site can be used to deliver easily understood final reports to clients that may have limited background knowledge in a particular area. Additionally, it provides a sufficiently logical and intuitive user interface for use by a wide range of end-users including farmers, land managers, policy makers and the general public. This approach has been used successfully to provide a framework to coordinate and report on the large quantities of complex data generated during the following three diverse projects: (i) a study of base metal exploration methods in an area impacted by mining and land clearance in the Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia, (ii) acid drainage issues impacting on agricultural production in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia and (iii) inland acid sulphate soils impacting on land degradation and water quality in wetlands adjacent to the River Murray in the Riverland region of South Australia.

Comparisons of barriers and enablers of leisure-time physical activity between farm and town residents in a rural Australian region

Aim: To compare adult farm and town residents on barriers and enablers of leisure-time physical activity in the Riverland region of South Australia. Methods: A questionnaire assessing hypothesised predictors of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), based on Social Ecological Theory, was telephoneadministered in 2010 to 290 randomly selected 18—65 year olds (170 women) in the South Australian Riverland. The response rate was 42% and participation rate was 62%. Responses from farm residents (n = 50) and town residents (n = 240) were compared using Chi Square analysis. Results: For psychological variables, farm women reported lower enjoyment of LTPA than their counterparts in towns (p = 0.02), while farm men were more likely than town men to report laziness as a barrier to LTPA (p = 0.01). For social variables, there were no differences between town and farm residents in family encouragement or availability of other people with whom to be active. Of environmental variables, town women were more likely to report insufficient time than farm women (p = 0.01), while farm men were more likely than town men to report community commitments as a barrier (p = 0.005). There were no differences in relation to attractiveness and safety of the neighbourhood, costs, travel time or availability of facilities as barriers to LTPA. Conclusions: In this sample of adults in one rural region, reported barriers and enablers of LTPA were largely similar among residents of towns and farms. However, physical activity promotion efforts in rural settings should take into account differences in physical activity attitudes and time ‘budgets’ between town and rural residents. Conflict of interest: None.

Climate variability and Ross River virus infections in Riverland, South Australia, 1992–2004

Ross River virus (RRV) infection is the most common notifiable vector-borne disease in Australia, with around 6000 cases annually. This study aimed to examine the relationship between climate variability and notified RRV infections in the Riverland region of South Australia in order to set up an early warning system for the disease in temperate-climate regions. Notified data of RRV infections were collected by the South Australian Department of Health. Climatic variables and monthly river flow were provided by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and South Australian Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation over the period 1992-2004. Spearman correlation and time-series-adjusted Poisson regression analysis were performed. The results indicate that increases in monthly mean minimum and maximum temperatures, monthly total rainfall, monthly mean Southern Oscillation Index and monthly flow in the Murray River increase the likelihood, but an increase in monthly mean relative humidity decreases the likelihood, of disease transmission in the region, with different time-lag effects. This study demonstrates that a useful early warning system can be developed for local regions based on the statistical analysis of readily available climate data. These early warning systems can be utilized by local public health authorities to develop disease prevention and control activities.

Secondary prevention for acute coronary syndrome in rural South Australia: Are drugs best? What about the rest?

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Current Australian clinical guidelines recommend all patients with ACS receive comprehensive secondary prevention services to address this burden. Optimal patient outcomes rely on the timely and effective implementation of proven therapies and for secondary prevention to be successful, pharmacological interventions must be combined with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor identification and management. The ability to implement clinical guidelines is also reliant on available resources, yet many rural populations in Australia do not have access to structured secondary prevention services, and the level of support available to them in the form of unstructured services is unclear. Our aim was to examine the scope of secondary prevention in a 'significantly restricted' rural region of South Australia that does not have access to structured secondary prevention services. A retrospective analysis of medical records was undertaken to identify documented evidence of assessment and intervention for medical, lifestyle and behavioural CVD risk factors in hospital and at follow up in general practice (GP) clinics. Eligible participants were patients admitted to hospital in the Riverland Region of South Australia with myocardial infarction over a 12 month period. Of 77 eligible participants, permission was received to access the medical records of 55 patients in the hospital setting, and 34 of these 55 patients in GP clinic follow up. Most patients received baseline assessment for previous AMI (98%), history of hypertension (82%), history of diabetes (78%), and smoking status (76%). Most poorly documented was history of dyslipidaemia (53%) and obesity/ overweight (2%). Prescribing rates for recommended ACS medications at the time of hospital discharge were aspirin (90%), beta blockers (55%), ACE inhibitors (42%), lipid lowering medication (66%) and clopidogrel (64%). Overall prescribing rates in the 12 month study period rose to 80% or higher for all recommended medications. There was no evidence of interventions for smoking and obesity/ overweight in the hospital setting and 45% of smokers in the GP clinic setting received quit advice. Measurement of biomedical risk factors (blood lipid analysis and blood glucose levels) was suboptimal, and there was no evidence of a written action plan for chest pain for any participants. Unstructured services provided some of the recommended elements of secondary prevention. However, deficits in care exist that have the potential to negatively impact patient outcomes in this already disadvantaged population. Future research needs to focus on the extent to which this and other rural and remote health care services are working within current clinical guidelines for the management of ACS, and subsequent patient outcomes. Urgent consideration must also be given to the introduction and evaluation of a more structured and consistent approach in this and other rural and remote regions of Australia. The development of rehabilitation and prevention services that build on existing strengths and resources have the potential to widen access, enhance current services and ensure care is based on best practice guidelines. This in turn may reduce the burden of CVD and improve the overall health and quality of life for patients in rural and remote Australia.

A Shelduck (Anatidae: Tadorna) from the Pliocene of South Australia

SummaryA complete fossil humerus referable to a shelduck (Anatidae: Tadorna sp.) is reported from an uncertain locality in the ‘Bookmark cliffs’ on the River Murray, a few kilometres upstream from Berri and Lyrup southwest of Renmark, in the Riverland region of South Australia. The fossil was embedded in a piece of pale grey, clean coarse sandstone having a siliceous cement. This is interpreted as being Parilla Sand, of late Pliocene age, which outcrops along the Murray River from Renmark to Loxton.

Quality of fresh and dried fruit of apricot (cv. Moorpark) in response to soil-applied nitrogen

The effects of soil applications of nitrogen on the quality of fresh and dried fruit from 12-year-old apricot Prunus armeniaca cultivar Moorpark trees growing on an orthic Tenosol in the Riverland region of South Australia were studied over 3 years. The experiment was set up in a randomised complete block design with 6 annual rates of nitrogen (0, 250, 500, 750, 1000 and 1250 g/tree.year) applied in the form of ammonium nitrate. Application was split into 30% at budburst, 30% six weeks after budburst and 40% after harvest. Firmness of fruit was significantly reduced as the rate of applied nitrogen increased. The flesh of individual fruits ripened more evenly when 0 or 250 g nitrogen/tree.year was applied, compared with rates in the range 500–1250 g nitrogen/tree.year. Application of nitrogen significantly increased the pH of fruit. The total soluble solids level of fruit from trees that received 0 or 250 g nitrogen/tree.year, was significantly lower than from trees that received 750 or 1250, but not 1000 g nitrogen/tree.year. Application of nitrogen did not significantly affect the concentration of sulfur dioxide in fresh fruit measured after sulfuring, but the concentration of sulfur dioxide in fruit at the completion of drying was significantly increased. The application of nitrogen did not affect the drying ratio of fruit. Nitrogen application increased the rate of darkening of dried apricots in storage in each of the three years. Relationships were found between time taken for dried apricots to darken to an unacceptable level and nitrogen concentration in harvested fruit. It is suggested that to assist in the management of darkening of dried apricots in storage, annual nitrogen application rates on an orthic Tenosol need to be below 500 g/tree.year and ideally below 250 g/tree.year.

Growth and yield responses of apricot (cv. Moorpark) to soil-applied nitrogen

The effect of soil-applied nitrogen on the growth and yield of 12-year-old apricot Prunus armeniaca cultivar Moorpark trees growing on an orthic Tenosol in the Riverland region of South Australia was studied over 3 years. The experiment was set up in a randomised complete block design with 6 annual rates of nitrogen (0, 250, 500, 750, 1000 and 1250 g/tree.year) applied in the form of ammonium nitrate. Application was split into 30% at budburst, 30% 6 weeks after budburst and 40% after harvest. Growth in trunk circumference was significantly greater at 750 and 1000 g/tree.year than at the other rates of nitrogen. In years 1 and 2, the weight of water shoot growth removed at pruning was significantly higher at nitrogen rates of 750–1250 g/tree.year than from trees that received no nitrogen. It is suggested that for Moorpark apricots growing on an orthic Tenosol, applying nitrogen at rates of 750 g/tree.year and above produces levels of water shoot growth that are undesirable for tree management. Nitrogen application resulted in darker and more vivid green leaves as measured with a Minolta Chroma Meter. Concentration of nitrogen in mid-shoot leaves was increased with increase in applied nitrogen. Fruit size was significantly increased by applied nitrogen in year 1, but fruit size was not significantly affected in years 2 and 3. Nitrogen application increased fruit set in the second and third year. Yield of fresh fruit was not significantly affected in the first year, but was in subsequent years with the maximum yield obtained at a rate of 1000 g/tree.year of nitrogen in both years. Yield of dried fruit followed similar trends to that of fresh fruit. Fruit maturation was delayed by 4 to 8 days by nitrogen application. After 3 years, applying nitrogen at 1250 g/tree.year the pH of soil in the top 15 cm was 4.7 compared with 6.7 where no nitrogen was applied.

Some observations on the sedimentary framework of the Loxton-Bookpurnong region, South Australia as defined by borehole, ground and airborne geophysical data - implications for informing the development of groundwater interception schemes

The construction of salt interception schemes (SIS) in the Riverland region of South Australia forms an integral part of a broader strategy to manage saline groundwater intrusion into the River Murray. Results from the inversion of airborne electromagnetic data provided some insight into the distribution and variability of the Loxton sands aquifer. These data indicated regional facies variations associated with the main barrier systems of this prograded strandline sedimentary sequence. The relevance of this information is being followed up in an examination of options for the Bookpurnong highland borefield. A program involving the acquisition and interpretation of neutron, gamma and inductive conductivity borehole logs, NanoTEM ground TEM traverses, and the analysis of HEM data was undertaken to better define the sedimentary and hydrogeological model of the area. This approach has been critical in explaining local scale changes in the sedimentary environment and elucidating reasons for the variable aquifer yield in the Loxton sands aquifer.

Parallel Rural Community Curriculum: is it a transferable model?

The chronic shortage of doctors in rural Australia has been well documented. Enabling medical students to undertake positive rural experiences during their undergraduate course is a well-supported long-term strategy to provide a sustainable solution to this problem. The Parallel Rural Community Curriculum (PRCC) was developed by Flinders University, South Australia, in 1997 to enable senior medical students to undertake an entire clinical year based in rural general practice in the Riverland region of South Australia. The academic success of this program has been widely acknowledged. Many institutions are planning to use this model as a basis for their own curriculum reform. However, questions have been asked as to how well this program would translate into another region. Due to the success of the Riverland program, Flinders University decided to commence a second PRCC program in 2002, this time in the Greater Green Triangle (GGT) region of South Australia and Victoria, Australia. This new program was developed collaboratively by the GGT University Department of Rural Health and the Flinders University Rural Clinical School. The mean student rank improved by an average of 17 places out of a class of 90 students. Partnership development took time. General practitioners (GPs) initially showed significant anxiety particularly in regard to their teaching capacity, time commitment of students and the infrastructure demands on their practices. Specialists' engagement was a challenge, requiring a significant change to their teaching paradigms. Horizontal and vertical integration of teaching was complex and required ongoing effort to maximize efficiency. The community had high expectations of the workforce outcome and these needed to be tempered with realistic expectations about the length of time required to train doctors, and an understanding of workforce mobility. The initial evaluation of the GGT PRCC suggests that the Riverland PRCC is translatable. Successes, including student performance, GP acceptance and community ownership have been replicated in the GGT community-based medical education program. A key to the success has been the recognition of the crucial role of partnerships in an environment where, for clinicians, clinical service provision and other personal needs take precedence over teaching roles and responsibilities.

An expert system for the management of Botrytis cinerea in Australian vineyards. II. Validation

An expert system developed by Ellison et al. (1997) for the management of Botrytis cinerea in Australian vineyards was validated against actual vineyard practices and official recommendations for control of the pathogen, using historical test cases from grapegrowing regions in southern New South Wales and from the Riverland region of South Australia. Performance of the expert system was judged on its ability to reduce unnecessary spray applications in seasons free from disease and to improve the timing of spray applications when conditions favoured disease development. In the test cases where disease did not develop, the expert system recommended between two and five sprays. This was comparable to the number of recommendations by official sources of advice but was excessive compared to actual vineyard practice where no sprays were applied. Reasons for the over-recommendation of sprays by the expert system were proposed. In the test cases where B. cinerea was observed, the expert system recommended a comparable number of sprays to grower practice and fewer sprays than official sources. With regard to timing of spray applications, the expert system was the only source of knowledge where spray recommendations bore any relationship to critical periods in the epidemiology of B. cinerea. Problems encountered in the validation of the expert system are discussed.

Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in rural South Australia.

To determine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and use of medical services in a South Australian rural community. Survey based on structured self-administered questionnaires. Riverland region of South Australia, between May and November, 1991. A probability sample of 1009 residents (71.1%) response stratified for age and sex (with replacement) aged 18 years and over from the State electoral roll. DSM-III-R-defined psychiatric disorders diagnosed by means of the University of Washington's Diagnostic Interview Schedule Screening Instrument (DISSI), physical disorders and use of health and allied services. Twenty-six percent had at least one psychiatric disorder in the six months before interview. Prevalence did not differ with sex or age, but was higher in the unemployed (P=0.0001). Those with a current psychiatric disorder were significantly more likely to report a lifetime physical disorder (p=0.0001). The most common disorders were major depression and dysthymia (10.8%), anxiety disorder (9.8%), phobic disorder (7.8%), alcohol abuse and dependence (7.0% and somatisation syndrome (5.3 During the year before interview, 88.5% of those diagnosed with a current psychiatric disorder had consulted a general practitioner and 4.2% a psychiatrist or psychologist. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the Riverland region was comparatively high. General practitioners were the primary care-providers for those with psychiatric disorders. These issues need to be addressed by service providers and health planners.