The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Ms Tricia Stroud has today announced the end of the special administration of the Riverina Medical and Dental Aboriginal Corporation.
Commonly known as ‘RivMed’, the corporation provides culturally-appropriate primary health care services, oral health care, out-of-home care and family and community programs in Wagga Wagga and surrounding areas.
RivMed was placed under special administration on 22 February 2022 to support the corporation address a range of financial and governance concerns.
‘Although RivMed has experienced a period of trouble I’m optimistic about its future particularly because of the positive support shown by corporation members, the wider community and stakeholders during the special administration,’ said Ms Stroud. ‘I am also confident we are handing the corporation back to members with much stronger foundations in its corporate governance which will support the operations of this important service.’
The incoming board is well-positioned to discharge its responsibilities effectively. The board will be skills-based with independent specialist directors. The skills focus will continue in the future with the corporation’s rule book now featuring more stringent requirements for director elections to maintain skills presence in this critical group.
The RivMed board will be supported by a newly appointed chief executive officer, who with a fresh senior management team will continue the significant HR and financial systems improvements implemented during special administration.
When the special administration began, RivMed had 33 vacant staffing positions across the organisation. This has been reduced to 10, with recruitment activity in progress for the remaining vacancies.
Extensive work to update financial records and strengthen financial systems and controls has been undertaken—both critical tasks for an organisation turning over more than $13 million annually, mostly in the form of government grants. The special administrator has updated RivMed’s accounting systems and implemented a new budget framework including detailed operating budgets for over 40 distinct funding streams. Staff have received training and received appropriate budget reporting processes supporting the corporation to maintain good financial management processes which were weak prior to special administration.
Last Thursday corporation members and community celebrated the successful turnaround of the corporation at a community gathering. The sharing of a meal and a performance by local school children a highlight of the celebrations.
Background
See the registrar’s previous media release of 22 February 2022, Riverina health service in recovery.
Media contact
Lisa Hugg 0477 762 290
ORIC MR2223-01
26 August 2022