Darlington Medical Centre
Sector: Healthcare
Industry: Medical / General Practice
About the business
Since opening in July 2020, Darlington Medical Centre has become one of the City of Onkaparinga's most active general practices.
GP-owned and run, bulk-billed and open seven days a week, it has grown to more than 34,000 patients in under six years.
Experienced doctors, plus a dedicated team of nurses and administrators work alongside an on-site pharmacy to deliver patient-centred care to a growing local community, with consultation, treatment and medication all under one roof, across a range of allied health services, including physiotherapy, podiatry, psychiatry, heart sonography and general surgery.
In under six years, the practice has grown to more than 34,000 registered patients and a team of nine GPs, won three Onkaparinga Business Awards, received the Primary Health Networks ‘Outstanding Achievement in Workplace Support’ award and earned RACGP reaccreditation with outstanding results.
The journey
Darlington Medical Centre took shape when a group of local GPs, hailing from practices right across Adelaide, came together with a single goal: a large, modern GP-led practice in a rapidly-growing area where comprehensive healthcare was hard to come by.
Built on the site of a former petrol station on a busy main road, it was built from the ground up and redeveloped into a purpose-built medical centre, bringing allied health and pharmacy together under one roof.
Opening with just four doctors, the appointment books filled almost immediately.
And the centre has been meeting that demand ever since, expanding services while holding firm to a model that keeps clinical decisions and continuity of care in the hands of the doctors providing care, rather than corporate operators.
The on-site pharmacy opened in December 2023, simplifying care by bringing medication, consultation and advice into a single, convenient visit.
Beyond day-to-day care, it has also become a reputable teaching clinic, hosting more than 100 student placements from the University of Adelaide, Flinders University and Torrens University.
Their next chapter? Becoming a GP registrar training site so they can support the next generation of doctors at a time when national workforce shortages continues to grow.
Why Onkaparinga?
For a practice built around bulk-billed, seven-day access, the City of Onkaparinga has proven the right home.
Strong population growth and an ongoing demand for accessible - and affordable - healthcare provides the perfect conditions, while a strong sense of community gives the centre its purpose.
Recognition through the Onkaparinga Business Awards has shone a light on the centre's work, while council-offered business workshops and resources have helped the centre continue to develop and grow.
"We love operating in the City of Onkaparinga because of the strong sense of community and the real opportunity to make a difference through accessible healthcare." Tash Drury, Practice Manager, Darlington Medical Centre