The Zeep 6-step guide to locum work
Thinking about locuming in Australia? Six steps, from working out why you want to locum to making the most of your first booking.
Step 1. Know why you want to locum
It shapes every choice after this
- Income. Clearing study debt, saving for a home, school fees or retirement.
- Experience. New hospitals, new consultants, new skills. For junior doctors, a chance to build confidence.
- A way of life. Some doctors locum for years: variety, less hospital politics and time off when they want it.
- A paid change of scene. Many hospitals are in places people holiday in, often with accommodation provided.
- Giving back. Many regional and remote hospitals rely on locums to keep services running.
Locum jobs booked through Zeep, July to September 2026. Rates vary by specialty, grade and state.
Step 2. Make a plan
Three things to decide
When can you work?
Confirm your dates before you say yes; pulling out late hurts your reputation. Allow a travel day: for remote hospitals you’ll usually arrive the day before.
What kind of hospital?
A well-organised larger hospital makes a first locum easy. A smaller one can teach you more. Your Zeep partner hears from working locums about each hospital and can tell you what to expect.
Where can you work?
If you have any restrictions on where you can work, for example as an international medical graduate, tell your agency at the start.
Step 3. Get your documents ready
Paperwork is the main reason doctors put off locuming
- An up-to-date CV with all relevant experience
- Referees who have worked with you recently: two for specialists; three for junior doctors, who supervised you in the area you want to work
- 100 points of ID, usually passport and driver’s licence
- Degree and fellowship certificates
- A current national police check
- Medical indemnity certificate
- Working with Children Check
- Immunisation and serology evidence
Switching is a 16-minute job.
Hospital forms are completed and signed online in EasySign. We check your AHPRA registration on the public register, send reference checks to your referees, and reuse your documents for later bookings while they’re valid. How EasySign works
Step 4. Choose your agency
A good partner does the running around
- Will they search for jobs that fit you, or just send what’s on their list?
- Will they put your preferences first?
- Will they tell you the good and the bad about a hospital?
- Who helps with paperwork, flights and accommodation?
- Are they there when you need them, including on the road?
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Rated +89 by the doctors we place. Our guide to choosing a locum agency has ten points to check for any agency, including us.
Step 5. Get ready to go
Small things that make a big difference
- Spare scrubs
- Your stethoscope
- Toiletries: not every place supplies the basics
- Chargers and a battery pack
- Enough phone data, as wifi isn’t always available
- Flight details
- Car hire details and your driver’s licence
- Accommodation details
- Directions to the hospital
- Who to report to on day one
Locum Support books and confirms these for you.
Step 6. Enjoy it
The secret from doctors who love locuming
Go with the flow
New hospital, new people. Expect things to be done differently.
Say hello and ask questions
Get to know the team. A wider network is good for your career.
Explore
Plan something for your days off. Many doctors come back to the same places.
Locum questions
What doctors ask us most
What documents do I need to start locuming in Australia?
Usually an up-to-date CV, referees, 100 points of ID, degree and fellowship certificates, a national police check, medical indemnity, a Working with Children Check and immunisation evidence. Each hospital lists exactly what it needs.
How much do locum doctors earn?
From July to September 2026, locum consultants booked through Zeep averaged $2,505 a day and registrars $1,419 a day. Rates vary by specialty, grade and state.
Who books travel and accommodation for a locum?
With Zeep, our Locum Support team books and coordinates travel and accommodation.
Does it cost anything to locum through Zeep?
No. Zeep is free for doctors.
Ready for your first locum?
Register and your Zeep partner will help you plan it.
About this guide. Written by Zeep Medical, first published 2020, updated October 2026. Rates from Zeep Insights, July to September 2026.
