Convicted South Australian rapist Dudley Davey could have been "flagged" as a potential risk and kept behind bars instead of being released into the community and murdering outback nurse Gayle Woodford, an inquest has heard.

Key points: Outback nurse Gayle Woodford was raped and murdered by Dudley Davey in 2016

Outback nurse Gayle Woodford was raped and murdered by Dudley Davey in 2016 A coronial inquest has heard the community they were in was the most violent in the APY Lands

A coronial inquest has heard the community they were in was the most violent in the APY Lands Dudley had been released from prison after not being assessed as a high-risk offender

For the past two weeks, deputy coroner Anthony Schapel has been hearing evidence about the 2016 rape and murder of Ms Woodford in Fregon as he probes nurse safety across the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands and whether adequate police resources were available.

He is also investigating what led to Davey's release on parole before the murder.

In June 2017, Davey was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 32 years for the rape and murder of the 56-year-old mother of two.

Dudley Davey being arrested for the murder and rape. ( Supplied: 7 News )

Today, Nganampa Health Clinic (NHC) locum nurse Phibion Takawira told the inquest that he worked across three remote APY Lands communities: Ernabella, Mimili and Fregon.

He said Fregon — which did not have a police presence in 2016 — was the most violent.

When Mr Takawira was asked how many times clinic staff were forced to call police, he responded: "Two to four times a week, sometimes more".

He said police could take up to five hours to arrive from neighbouring communities.

He told the inquest that staff would log an incident with NHC management, who would follow up with a phone call, but nothing ever changed.

"I felt like that was the end of it," he said.

Gayle and Keith Woodford in Queensland in 2013. ( Supplied: Keith Woodford )

Release could have been postponed

On Thursday, Department of Correctional Services (DCS) offender rehabilitation services director Dr Henry Pharo told the inquest that his department missed an opportunity to indefinitely detain Davey.

The inquest was told Davey was serving a sentence for a previous offence — an indecent assault on a 17-year-old girl in 2012 — when he was assessed by prison authorities.

Dr Pharo said DCS could have flagged Davey as a potential high-risk offender, which would have allowed the Attorney-General to apply to the Supreme Court for an indefinite detention order, postponing his release on parole.

"I think we missed an opportunity to flag this offender," Dr Pharo said.

"… My understanding of the new system is a case like this wouldn't be missed."

Dr Pharo told the inquest that if Davey had been flagged as a potential risk, it would have been referred to the Serious Offenders Committee and the head of the DCS.

He said he did not think the request would have been knocked back.

The inquest heard that when Davey was sentenced over the 2012 indecent assault, his initial assessment showed he was operating at a basic-to-non-functional literacy level, as English was his second language.

Gayle Woodford with her nursing colleagues in Fregon, Belinda Schultz and Glynis Johns. ( Supplied )

Davey not referred to suitable rehabilitation

Davey was considered to have a high-risk of reoffending.

A specialist referral that would have allowed him to undertake violent and sexual offending programs in prison was made, the inquest heard.

Mark Roberts, for the DCS and SA Police, asked Dr Pharo about Davey's first specialist referral to be enrolled in the Sexual Behaviour Program and Violence Prevention Program in December 2013.

Gayle Woodford's ambulance which was stolen by Davey. ( Supplied: SA Police )

But Dr Pharo told the inquest that Davey fell asleep during that referral assessment.

He said Davey had a second referral in May 2014, but was assessed by a woman, which created another challenge as he would only discuss his sexual offending with a male.

"I think the question was put to him: 'Would you prefer to speak to a male?' and he agreed," Dr Pharo said.

"It was a culturally informed practice at the time to recognise that individuals from this remote area would speak to men."

The coronial inquest was told that there was a delay in another assessment and Davey missed a potential opportunity to be enrolled in the only annual rehabilitation program more suited to his offending and literacy level, called Sexual Behaviour Clinic-me.

But the court heard the program would not have been ideal, as it was designed for people with a lower cognitive function, not for people who spoke English as a second language.

The inquest heard DCS now runs a violence prevention program for Aboriginal men that is more culturally appropriate for some prisoners.