Locum Doctor Work in South Australia: Pay Rates, Regions, and How to Get Started
[15 min read | Locum Pay & Rates | May 2026]
TL;DR: South Australia offers some of the highest locum pay rates for resident medical officers in Australia, averaging A$160 per hour. The state is divided into 10 Local Health Networks, with significant locum demand in rural areas like Eyre, Flinders, and the Limestone Coast. For those seeking well-paid locum opportunities in a state with a lower cost of living, SA is worth considering. SA Health
- South Australia offers the highest average locum rates for RMOs in Australia at A$160/hour.
- SA Health is structured into 10 Local Health Networks, each managing its own workforce.
- Rural areas like Eyre and the Limestone Coast have high locum demand.
Sources: 4 cited below ↓
How is SA Health structured?
South Australia's public hospital and community health services are organised into 10 Local Health Networks (LHNs). These networks include the Central Adelaide LHN (Royal Adelaide Hospital, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital), Northern Adelaide LHN (Lyell McEwin Hospital, Modbury Hospital), and Southern Adelaide LHN (Flinders Medical Centre, Noarlunga Hospital). The Women's and Children's Health Network is also a key part of the metro LHNs.
The regional LHNs, such as Barossa Hills Fleurieu, Eyre and Far North, and Limestone Coast, cover country SA and are where most locum demand is concentrated. Each LHN manages its own credentialing and workforce, requiring doctors to engage directly with the specific LHN where they wish to work. The Rural General Practitioner Agreement, effective since 1 February 2024, outlines how GPs contract with regional LHNs, providing a framework for locum work in these areas.
A$160/hour
is the average locum rate for RMOs in South Australia, the highest nationally, SA Health (2026).
What do locum doctors earn in South Australia?
Locum rates in South Australia are notably strong. Resident Medical Officers (RMOs) earn an average of A$160 per hour, with rates ranging from A$140 to A$180 depending on the facility and shift type. Specialist locum rates vary from A$2,000 to A$3,500+ per day, influenced by specialty and location. General Practitioner Visiting Medical Officers (GP VMOs) in rural areas can earn A$1,800 to A$3,000+ per day, with Aboriginal health service placements in remote areas reaching A$2,000+ per day.
For reference, permanent SA Health salaries range from A$81,814 to A$144,291 for Junior Medical Officers, and up to A$641,452 for senior consultants. Rural placements often include accommodation and travel, with flights standard for remote Eyre and Far North placements.
South Australia's RMO average of A$160/hr significantly surpasses NSW's A$140/hr and WA's A$120/hr. The cost of living in Adelaide is lower than in Sydney or Melbourne, making your earnings go further. Rent in Adelaide is approximately 30-40% less than in Sydney for similar properties.
💡Consider Location
Choose locum placements in areas with included accommodation and travel to maximise earnings.
Where is the work for locum doctors in South Australia?
Eyre and Far North
This LHN covers a vast area west and north of Adelaide, including Ceduna, Port Lincoln, Coober Pedy, and the APY Lands. It offers some of the most remote medicine in the state, with constant locum demand and top-end rates. Port Lincoln Hospital is the main facility on the Eyre Peninsula, while Coober Pedy and the APY Lands focus on Aboriginal health and outback medicine.
Flinders and Upper North
Anchored by Port Augusta and Whyalla, this region serves mining communities, pastoral stations, and a significant Indigenous population. Port Augusta Hospital is a key facility for the upper Spencer Gulf, with regular locum opportunities in emergency, general medicine, and GP shifts.
Limestone Coast
Mount Gambier serves as the hub for the state's southeast, accessible by a 4.5-hour drive from Adelaide or a 5-hour drive from Melbourne. The Mount Gambier and Districts Health Service operates a busy ED and surgical unit, making it a popular locum destination due to its blend of rural medicine and urban amenities.
Riverland Mallee Coorong
Berri, Renmark, and Murray Bridge form the Riverland corridor, with moderate but steady locum demand. The area is 2-3 hours from Adelaide by road, driven by agriculture and ageing communities.
Barossa Hills Fleurieu and Yorke and Northern
These LHNs cover peri-urban and regional areas closer to Adelaide, such as the Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills, and Yorke Peninsula. Rates are slightly lower than in remote LHNs, but the lifestyle trade-off can be appealing.
Metro Adelaide
The metro LHNs (Central, Northern, and Southern Adelaide) offer the highest volume of shifts at lower rates. Major teaching hospitals like the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Lyell McEwin, and Flinders Medical Centre provide consistent metro work without the need for travel.
What do you need to locum in SA?
To work as a locum in South Australia, you need current AHPRA registration, an ABN for contractor-based work, and medical indemnity insurance that covers locum work. A national police check within the last two years and an SA Working with Children Check (DCSI screening) are also required. Each LHN manages its own credentialing process, so you must complete their specific requirements. Additionally, you need complete vaccination records, including Hep B serology, MMR, varicella, dTpa, TB screening, COVID, and influenza.
South Australia is investing in training, with 154 future GPs commencing training in 2026, a 35% increase from 2025. However, these trainees are years from independent practice, and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) notes that SA lacks an up-to-date map of unmet health needs and service gaps. As a result, locums remain a crucial part of health delivery in the state.
Locum doctors are essential to South Australia's healthcare system due to workforce shortages.
