How to Start Locum Without Giving Up Your Permanent Doctor Role

August 17, 2026

For many doctors, the idea of locum work is appealing.

Higher earning potential. More flexibility. The opportunity to experience different hospitals and parts of Australia. Greater control over when and where you work.

But there's often one big misconception:

Becoming a locum doesn't mean you have to give up your permanent position.

Many doctors begin locum work alongside their existing careers—taking occasional placements during annual leave, between rotations, over weekends or whenever their schedule allows.

It's an opportunity to experience locum work for yourself, earn additional income and discover whether this way of working suits you without making a major career change.

And for some doctors, those occasional placements eventually become something much bigger.

Why Try Locum Work on the Side?

There isn't one reason doctors decide to locum.

For some, it's financial.

For others, it's about experiencing a different hospital, working somewhere new or simply having more control over their career.

Taking occasional locum placements can give you:

Additional income alongside your permanent salary
Greater flexibility over when you work
Exposure to different hospitals and health services
Experience in regional, rural or remote medicine
Opportunities to broaden your clinical experience
New professional networks
The chance to travel while working
A way to experience locum life before considering it full-time

Most importantly, it doesn't need to be an all-or-nothing decision. You can start small.

How Can Locum Work Fit Around a Permanent Role?

There are several ways doctors can incorporate locum work into an existing career.

You might take a short placement during annual leave, work additional shifts when you're available, locum between rotations or use a gap between permanent positions to take a longer contract.
Some doctors might only complete a few placements each year.
Others gradually increase the amount of locum work they do as they discover they enjoy the flexibility, variety and financial benefits.
Before accepting additional work, however, it's important to check any employment, contractual, credentialing or other requirements associated with your permanent position.
The goal isn't necessarily to replace your permanent career.
It's to create another option.

The Financial Benefits Can Be Significant

For many doctors, the financial opportunity is one of the biggest attractions of locum work.

Exactly how much you can earn depends on your specialty, seniority, location, demand, roster and the types of contracts you accept. However, locum rates—particularly in high-demand specialties and regional or remote locations—can be significantly higher than equivalent permanent hospital rates.

In our experience at CC Medical, many of the doctors we work with are earning double, and in some cases even triple, their equivalent permanent hospital rate through particular locum placements.

There can also be significant additional financial benefits. With CC Medical locum placements, accommodation, flights, travel and car hire are covered, meaning the overall value of a contract can extend well beyond the advertised hourly or daily rate.

And you don't necessarily need to become a full-time locum to benefit.

A handful of carefully selected placements throughout the year can provide a valuable additional income stream alongside your permanent medical career.

Your First Locum Doesn't Have to Be Remote

When doctors think about locum work, it's easy to imagine flying into an isolated community hundreds of kilometres from the nearest major city.

Those opportunities certainly exist—but they aren't your only option.

Locum positions can be available across metropolitan, regional, rural and remote hospitals.

If you're new to locum work, you might feel more comfortable beginning with a regional hospital or a location within relatively easy travelling distance from home.

As your confidence grows, you can decide whether you'd like to explore further afield.

For other doctors, travel is precisely what makes locum work appealing.

The important thing is finding the type of placement that suits you.

Decide Where You Actually Want to Work

Before asking a recruiter what's available, think about what you're prepared to consider.

Would you work anywhere in Australia?

Only within your home state?

Regional centres but not remote communities?

Somewhere you can drive to?

Or would you specifically like locum work to take you somewhere you've never been?

Then think about the hospital itself.

A large regional hospital can provide a very different experience from a smaller rural health service.

Consider:

Hospital size
Department and specialty
Level of clinical support
Patient mix
Roster
Contract length
Location
Travel requirements
Your level of experience and confidence

Knowing your preferences makes it much easier to identify opportunities that genuinely suit you rather than simply chasing whichever contract has the highest rate.

Talk to a Specialist Locum Recruiter Before You Start Looking

One of the best things you can do when you're considering locum work is have a conversation with someone who understands the market.

You don't necessarily need to wait until you're ready to accept a position.

An experienced locum recruiter can tell you what's happening within your specialty right now.

What locations are experiencing the strongest demand?
What types of hospitals regularly use locums?
What rates are currently being offered?
What experience are hospitals looking for?
How long are typical contracts?
What credentialing will you need?

A recruiter specialising in Psychiatry, for example, should understand the different psychiatry departments, hospital requirements, workforce shortages and locum opportunities within that specialty.

Likewise, someone experienced in rural and remote medicine should understand the hospitals and communities—not simply the vacancies.

That knowledge can be extremely valuable when you're trying to decide whether locum work is right for you.

Don't Compare Locum Jobs on Rate Alone

The highest advertised rate doesn't automatically make something the best contract.

Look at the complete package.

Consider:

Accommodation
Flights and travel
Car hire
Allowances
Roster
Contract length
Location
Clinical support
Payroll arrangements
Payment terms

These factors can significantly affect both your experience and the overall financial value of a placement.

A slightly lower rate with accommodation, flights, travel and car hire covered may ultimately represent better value than a higher rate where you're responsible for more of those costs yourself.

The Question New Locums Often Forget: When Will I Get Paid?

This is something doctors new to locum work can easily overlook.

Before accepting a placement, ask your agency exactly when you will be paid.

Some recruitment arrangements can depend on the agency first receiving payment from the hospital. If an invoice is paid late, this can potentially result in doctors waiting six to eight weeks—or even longer in unusual circumstances—for work they've already completed.

That's particularly important when you're travelling between placements and still have everyday expenses at home.

At CC Medical, our locum doctors are paid weekly.

You've completed the work, so you shouldn't have to wait for a hospital's invoice cycle before receiving your income.

Weekly pay provides certainty and makes budgeting, travelling and planning future placements considerably easier.

Prepare Before the Perfect Locum Appears

One mistake new locums can make is waiting until they see the perfect opportunity before getting organised.

By then, another doctor may already be ready to go.

Instead, start preparing before you're actively looking.

Have an up-to-date CV.
Think about your availability.
Decide which states and locations you're willing to consider.
Know what contract lengths could work around your permanent commitments..
Think about the types of hospitals where you'd be comfortable working.
Make sure your registration and documentation are current.
Allow time for hospital credentialing.
And speak with a specialist locum recruiter about what else you're likely to need.
Being prepared means that when the right opportunity appears, you're in a much better position to consider it.

What Should You Look for in a Locum Agency?

If you're new to locum work, your agency can have a significant influence on your experience.

Don't judge an agency purely by the number of jobs advertised.

Ask:

Do they understand your specialty?

A specialist recruiter should be able to provide genuine insight into your area of medicine rather than simply reading a job description.

Do they know the hospitals and locations?

They should be able to help you understand where you're going and what to expect.

When do they pay you?

Look for certainty around payment rather than assuming every agency operates the same way.

What's included in the contract?

Understand accommodation, travel, car hire and other arrangements before accepting.

Will they discuss an opportunity with you before representing you?

You should know where your CV is going, what role you're being considered for and why the opportunity might suit you.

Will they support you after you arrive?

Good recruitment support shouldn't disappear the moment you start your placement.

Your Recruiter Should Be More Than Someone Who Sends You Jobs

A good locum recruiter should become a useful source of career and market intelligence.

They see vacancies, rates, hospital demand and workforce shortages every day.

They can help you understand which locations are actively recruiting, where your specialty is most in demand and what different hospitals are looking for.

They can also help negotiate on your behalf, prepare you for placements and provide insight into hospitals or locations you may never have worked in before.

That's particularly valuable when you're considering your first few locums.

When Might You Consider Going Full-Time?

After you've completed several placements, you may start looking at locum work differently.

Perhaps you enjoy having greater control over your calendar.

Maybe you prefer working across different hospitals.

More Than 35 Years of Healthcare Recruitment

For more than 35 years, CC Medical has been helping healthcare professionals build rewarding careers across Australia.

That experience has allowed us to develop long-standing relationships with hospitals and health services nationwide, along with specialist knowledge across different areas of medicine.

If you've never locumed before, you don't need to know exactly where you want to go or what type of contract you're looking for before having a conversation.

That's where an experienced specialist recruiter can help.