Locum work gives doctors and nurses the flexibility to take on short-term placements at hospitals, GP practices, and clinics when extra cover is needed. These assignments can range from a single shift to several weeks or months.

The main advantage? Flexibility and choice. 

You decide when and where you’d like to work, with the freedom to take breaks between assignments or line them up back-to-back.

If you’ve ever Googled “how does locum work in Australia”, this is exactly what it means: 

you step in, provide essential care, and then move on when the placement ends.

Yes. AHPRA registration is mandatory for all doctors and nurses working in Australia.

 For overseas-trained doctors, there are specific registration pathways depending on your qualifications. 

The process can take time, but once approved, you can access locum opportunities across the country.

At Jon & Jon Medical, we regularly help doctors understand their AHPRA pathway, complete the paperwork, and prepare for compliance requirements.  

Please refer to the AHPRA Website for more details. 

This is one of the most popular questions we hear!  Locum pay in Australia varies significantly, anywhere from $100 - $400 per hour or $1000 - $4000 per day depending on your specialty, experience, and location. For example:

• Rural and regional placements often offer higher rates to reflect travel and remote living.
• Emergency medicine, psychiatry, and obstetrics generally command strong rates due to high demand.
• Nursing locum rates vary by state, shift type, and specialty (ED, theatre, generalist).

Many doctors use locum work to boost their income significantly while enjoying greater control over their schedules.

 To get specific details on pay rates for your specialty, contact our team today. 

In most rural locum contracts, yes. 

Hospitals and clinics usually provide flights, car hire, or fuel reimbursement, along with accommodation ranging from on-site hospital accommodation to serviced apartments or house rentals depending on the location and length of assignment.

This makes locum work especially attractive, as you can earn competitive rates while minimising personal expenses, we have many Doctors who have full time jobs but choose to locum in their annual leave and take their family to a different location for a working holiday.

Demand changes from year to year, but we consistently see strong need for:

• Emergency medicine doctors 
• General practitioners (GPs)
• Psychiatrists
• Obstetrics & gynaecology specialists
• Nurses in ED, theatre, and rural generalist roles

If you’re trained in any of these areas, opportunities are plentiful, and often come with higher pay rates.

Absolutely. Many doctors and nurses choose to take on locum shifts during annual leave or weekends to supplement their income and gain exposure to different healthcare settings.

For others, locum work becomes a full-time career path. The flexibility means you can tailor your schedule to your lifestyle and career goals.

Good question! Here’s why working with a trusted agency like Jon & Jon makes a difference:

• Less admin: We handle credentialing, compliance, and paperwork.
• Better pay negotiations: We advocate on your behalf to secure fair rates.
• Exclusive roles: We often have access to private and niche vacancies not advertised elsewhere.
• Ongoing support: From your first day on placement to your last, our team is here for you.

It sounds cliche but we’re not just here to fill jobs, we’re here to support careers.

If your paperwork and compliance are ready, you could be working within days. Some emergency or rural placements move very fast. 

 Unlike permanent positions there is no interview between the Doctor and the hospital (or clinic); as a minimum we would obtain your references and send them across to the decision maker with your CV.  

Once approved the hospital gives us the go-ahead to book the required flights/car and accommodation logistics and we will help you complete additional compliance requirements.

For international doctors, the process is longer (often several months) due to AHPRA registration and visa requirements, but after you have received your General or Specialist Registration, opportunities will open up quickly.