Locum Emergency Medicine Jobs in Australia: Pay, Demand, and How to Get Started

[9 min read | Locum Pay & Rates | May 2026]

TL;DR: Locum emergency medicine roles in Australia are in high demand and offer competitive pay. Key factors include location, shift urgency, and seniority. Essential requirements include AHPRA registration and relevant experience. For more details, see ACEM.

Why is there a high demand for locum emergency medicine doctors?

Emergency medicine is currently the most sought-after specialty for locum doctors in Australia, driven by an increasing number of emergency department (ED) presentations. According to the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM), there were over 9.1 million presentations to public hospital EDs in 2024-25. Every state and territory is experiencing a shortage of emergency specialists, and vacancies for trainees are also common.

The ACEM's State of Emergency 2024 report highlights that regional, rural, and remote areas face a 27% higher demand for emergency care per capita compared to urban areas. Conversely, the availability of emergency medical specialists in these regions is 22% lower, creating a significant gap that locum doctors can fill.

The duration of ED stays has also increased, with one in ten patients now spending more than 11 hours in the department, up from seven hours a decade ago. This rise in demand has outpaced population growth, with per-capita ED visit rates climbing from 218 per 1,000 residents in 2003 to 338 per 1,000 in 2023, as reported by Emergency Medicine Australasia.

How much do ED locum doctors earn in Australia?

The earnings for locum doctors in emergency medicine vary based on factors such as seniority, location, and the urgency of shifts. Current market rates are as follows:

• FACEM / Consultant: A$2,500-A$4,000 per shift. Rates above A$3,000 are common in rural and remote EDs, with some last-minute outback placements exceeding A$4,000.
• Senior Medical Officer (SMO): A$180-A$250 per hour. SMOs with emergency experience but without FACEM are in high demand at mid-sized regional hospitals.
• ED Registrar: A$100-A$180 per hour. Advanced trainees with procedural skills command the upper end of this range.
• ED RMO/HMO: Approximately A$140 per hour on average, rising to around A$160 per hour for night shifts.

Rural placements often include flights and accommodation in addition to the daily rate. For example, a typical week-long rural FACEM locum covering seven 10-hour shifts at A$3,000 per day totals A$21,000 gross, excluding any on-call loading.

Where are the locum ED shifts available in Australia?

Locum shifts are available across Australia, with certain locations consistently offering opportunities due to high demand and staffing shortages:

Alice Springs Hospital, Northern Territory: Known for high-acuity presentations and a large Indigenous patient population, this hospital consistently requires locum doctors due to a permanent FACEM shortage.

Cairns Hospital and Far North Queensland: Serving a vast area, including Cape York and Torres Strait communities, this region regularly needs locum ED cover, offering rates of A$3,000+ per day plus flights and accommodation.

Launceston General Hospital, Tasmania: With Tasmania's locum costs tripling in recent years, Launceston and the North West Regional Hospital are frequent sources of ED locum shifts.

Kalgoorlie Health Campus, Western Australia: Serving the Goldfields-Esperance region, this location faces ongoing demand due to mining injuries and a small permanent medical workforce.

Mount Isa Hospital, Queensland: Offers true outback medicine with high rates and a broad case mix, providing experiences that metro doctors rarely encounter.

For more strategies on making remote placements work, refer to our guide to landing rural locum assignments.

What do you need before your first ED locum shift?

Before starting locum work in an emergency department, ensure you have the following documents in order:

1. AHPRA registration: General registration for RMO/HMO roles and specialist registration for consultant positions. Your registration must be unconditional and current. Visit AHPRA for more information.
2. Fellowship or training status: FACEM for consultant roles and advanced trainee status or equivalent for registrar-level work. RMOs should have completed ED rotations on their CV.
3. ABN: Most locum work is contractor-based. The process takes about 10 minutes online. Our ABN setup guide provides detailed instructions.
4. Medical indemnity insurance: Ensure your policy explicitly covers locum work, after-hours shifts, and procedural work, given the higher clinical risk in emergency medicine.
5. National police check: Must be within the last two years. Validex, one of our partners, offers this service.
6. Working with Children Check: Required in every state, with QLD using a Blue Card system.
7. Vaccination records: Include Hep B serology, MMR, varicella, dTpa, TB screening, COVID, and influenza. Incomplete records may lead to rejection by hospitals.

If you're new to locum work, start with our step-by-step guide to becoming a locum doctor.

What does this mean for locum doctors in Victoria?

In Victoria, the demand for locum emergency medicine doctors is significant, particularly in regional and rural areas. The state's healthcare system faces similar challenges to those seen nationwide, with increasing ED presentations and a shortage of permanent staff. Locum doctors in Victoria can expect competitive pay rates, especially in rural placements where the need is greatest.

Victoria's locum opportunities often include additional benefits such as accommodation and travel allowances, making these roles financially attractive. However, doctors should be prepared for the unpredictability of locum work, including last-minute roster changes and working in unfamiliar environments.