What To Know Before Your First Locum Job

[8 min read | Getting Started | June 2026]

TL;DR: Your first locum shift goes smoothly when the groundwork is done: registration and indemnity sorted, the right documents ready, the job details clarified, and your expenses tracked from day one. Rural placements need a little extra preparation for travel and supplies. The non-negotiable starting point is current registration, which you can confirm through AHPRA before you accept any work.

What paperwork do you need before your first locum job?

Preparation is mostly paperwork, and getting it in order early is what makes the first shift feel straightforward. Start with your registration: confirm it is current and unconditional through AHPRA, since the hospital's credentialing team will check it before you can work. Then sort your medical indemnity insurance, and confirm with your insurer that the policy covers locum work in the specialty and setting you are taking on. The Australian Medical Association publishes guidance on indemnity that is a useful reference if you are unsure what your cover includes.

Beyond those two essentials, most sites will ask for a current police check, a Working with Children check where relevant, evidence of vaccinations and immunity, and an up-to-date CV with contactable referees. If you intend to bill Medicare, you also need a provider number for each location, which is administered through the Department of Health and Aged Care.

Keeping these documents together and current saves time on every future placement, because credentialing asks for the same things each time. A shift platform that stores them in one place means you upload once rather than chasing paperwork before each new job.

What should you pack and prepare for the shift?

Packing for a locum shift is about being self-sufficient in an unfamiliar place. The basics are a laptop and charger, scrubs, your stethoscope, and photo identification, plus any small clinical kit you prefer to use yourself. Have your login details and credentialing paperwork accessible, because the first hour of a new placement often involves setting up system access.

Rural and remote placements need more thought. Local shops may close early, so packing some food and supplies for the first day or two is sensible, and warm clothing matters in many inland and southern locations. Check what the accommodation provides before you travel so you are not caught short. Continuing professional development requirements set by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners continue while you locum, so it is worth keeping a simple log of the cases and learning from each placement as you go.

What should you ask before accepting a locum job?

A short list of questions before you say yes prevents most first-shift surprises. Ask about accommodation and whether it is provided or reimbursed, how travel costs are handled, the expected workload, and the on-call commitment. Get the name and contact details of the person to call on your first day, and ask what orientation or system access will be arranged.

Clarify pay clearly and in writing, including the rate, how and when you are paid, and the cancellation terms if a shift falls through. Use the Medical Practitioners Award MA000031, published by the Fair Work Ombudsman, as a baseline reference when you are judging whether an offer is reasonable. Getting these details confirmed before you commit means you arrive knowing exactly what to expect.

How do pay and expenses work for locums?

Locum pay varies widely, and it would be misleading to quote a single per-day figure, because rates move with location, specialty, time of day, and how urgently a shift needs filling. There is no published national per-day locum rate for that reason. What is fixed is the award baseline set out by the Fair Work Ombudsman, which gives you a floor to measure any offer against. Rural and remote shifts often pay more and add incentives, reflecting the harder-to-fill demand shown in national workforce data.

On the expenses side, locums can often claim genuine work-related costs such as travel, accommodation while away from home, professional registration and indemnity fees, and equipment. The rules are specific and depend on your circumstances, so keep clear records of everything from your first shift and confirm what applies to you with a registered tax agent. Good record-keeping from day one is what turns a deduction you are entitled to into one you can actually substantiate.

What does this mean for locum doctors in New South Wales?

New South Wales offers a wide range of first-locum opportunities, from large Sydney teaching hospitals to small regional and rural services. Workforce data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that coverage is thinner outside the major cities, which is why regional placements are often available at short notice and at higher rates.

For a first placement, that range is an advantage, because you can choose a setting that matches your confidence level. A metropolitan hospital offers more on-site support and senior backup, while a regional shift offers more autonomy, higher pay, and more responsibility. Whichever you choose, the preparation is the same: registration, indemnity, documents, and a clear set of questions answered before you arrive.