9 Reasons Doctors Choose Locum Work in Australia

Locum doctor jobs in Australia are becoming increasingly popular among GPs, specialists, and hospital doctors. Many healthcare professionals are discovering that locum work offers unique benefits compared to permanent positions.

Here are the top reasons why doctors choose locum work in Australia:

1. Flexibility and Freedom

Flexibility is one of the biggest advantages of being a locum. Doctors can choose where they want to work, tailoring placements to locations they’d like to experience. You can also decide when you want to work, creating schedules that fit your lifestyle. Importantly, locums are not required to take night shifts — but if you choose to, those shifts usually come with even higher pay rates. And unlike permanent roles, locums have the freedom to move on from a facility if it doesn’t feel like the right fit, without being locked into long-term contracts.

2. Better Work–Life Balance

By taking locum shifts, you can spend more time with family, travel, or pursue personal projects. Many use locum work as a gap year in their career, travelling around Australia without worrying about long-term commitments. From relaxing in Northern NSW, one of the most beautiful areas in the country, to experiencing life in a big city like Sydney, locum jobs allow doctors to combine career and lifestyle.

3. Locum Career Variety and Growth

Working as a locum allows doctors to gain experience in different healthcare settings, from small rural clinics to large hospitals. Locums can also focus on your area of interest, choosing placements that match their skills and career goals. Instead of being allocated wherever a facility most needs staff, doctors can select shifts that suit their expertise.

4. Gain Required Experience

Sometimes doctors need a certain amount of experience in specific areas before moving forward in their careers. Locum work is a smart way to achieve this. By using annual leave or even a gap year, doctors can take targeted placements that provide the experience you need — whether it’s rural medicine, emergency shifts, or exposure to a different type of patient population.

5. High Pay

Locum work is financially rewarding. In Australia, locums typically earn between $1,200–$2,000 per day, depending on location and urgency. Rural and urgent placements often offer even higher rates, making locum shifts one of the best-paid options in the medical field.

6. Fast-Track Your Loans

With strong day rates, many doctors use locum work to fast-track paying off HECS debt or other loans. A few months of locum shifts can make a significant difference to long-term financial freedom.

7. Save for Big Goals

Beyond paying off debt, locum work helps doctors save for life goals like a first home deposit, building long-term security while still enjoying professional flexibility.

8. Make the Most of Annual Leave

Some doctors get restless during long breaks from their permanent jobs. Locum work offers the perfect solution: you can use your annual leave to help a community in need, travel, and earn money at the same time. Instead of being bored during holidays, locum shifts let you explore new regions, meet new colleagues, and make a real difference where extra doctors are needed most.

9. Opportunities to Travel

Locum work can take doctors across Australia. Some choose short-term jobs in coastal towns, while others explore remote regions. Locum doctor jobs combine professional growth with adventure, letting doctors discover new places while maintaining financial security.

Conclusion: Locum work in Australia is more than just a job—it’s a lifestyle choice. From flexibility and career development to financial rewards and travel, locum jobs offer opportunities that permanent roles often can’t match. Whether you want to build your career, save for your first home, or explore new parts of the country, locum work makes it possible.