Locum vs Permanent Doctor Jobs in Australia

Whether to work locum or take a permanent position is one of the more practical career decisions you will face. Both arrangements have real advantages. The right one depends on your career stage, financial situation, personal circumstances, and what you actually want from your working life right now.

What Is Locum Work?

Locum tenens — locum for short — means temporary or contract-based medical work. A locum doctor fills a position for a set period, anything from a single day to several months. Locum roles exist across virtually every specialty and setting in Australia, from metropolitan hospitals and GP clinics to regional and remote facilities.

Locum doctors are paid a sessional or daily rate rather than an annual salary. They often work through a placement agency that handles contracts, travel, and accommodation logistics. Some doctors do locum work full-time; others take it on alongside a permanent role to supplement income or keep their clinical exposure varied.

Demand for locum doctors in Australia is consistently high, driven by workforce shortages in specific regions and specialties, leave coverage requirements, and the natural ebb and flow of staffing in both public and private facilities. Browse current opportunities on our locum jobs page.

What Is Permanent Employment?

A permanent position — full-time or part-time — is an ongoing employment relationship with a hospital, health service, or practice. You receive a regular salary with entitlements: annual leave, sick leave, long service leave, employer superannuation contributions, and usually some professional development funding.

In the public sector, permanent positions are governed by enterprise agreements or awards that define pay scales, conditions, and progression pathways. In private practice, arrangements vary more widely and may include a base salary, a percentage of billings, or a combination of both.

Permanent employment gives you predictability and security that locum work cannot match. It also tends to offer clearer career progression, particularly within hospital systems where advancement through registrar, fellow, and consultant grades follows a defined structure.

How They Compare

Both models have genuine strengths and real trade-offs. These are the five dimensions that matter most when making the call.

Flexibility

Locum work gives you significant control over when, where, and how much you work — accept or decline assignments, take extended breaks, and experience different clinical environments. Permanent roles offer less daily flexibility but many now include part-time arrangements and flexible rostering.

Earning Potential

Locum rates are typically higher to offset the lack of leave entitlements and benefits. However, permanent packages include paid leave, employer superannuation, salary packaging, and professional development funding — which narrows the gap considerably. See our salary guides for detailed benchmarks.

Career Progression

Permanent roles are better suited to structured progression — building a track record, taking on leadership, and accessing training positions. For doctors in college training programs, accredited permanent positions are usually required. Locum work builds breadth and adaptability, but not depth within a single department.

Lifestyle

Locum work can involve travel and frequent adjustment to new teams. Some doctors thrive on this variety; others find it isolating. Permanent work lets you put down roots, build community relationships, and establish a stable routine — which tends to suit doctors with families or a preference for a settled home life.

Professional Development

Permanent employers typically fund conference attendance, study leave, and in-house education, and provide mentoring and peer support. Locum doctors must manage their own CPD — the variety of environments is valuable, but the absence of a consistent team makes sustained professional growth harder to structure.

Hybrid Approaches

Locum and permanent work are not mutually exclusive. Many doctors run a hybrid: a part-time permanent position alongside regular locum shifts. Done well, you get the security and career progression of a permanent role plus the earning potential and variety of locum work.

Some employers actively support hybrid arrangements, especially in regions or specialties where retention is difficult. If this model appeals to you, it is worth raising with your employer directly or talking to a placement consultant who can point you toward roles that accommodate it.

Who Suits Each Model?

Locum work tends to suit doctors who...

Value flexibility and variety, are comfortable with change, and are at a stage where structured progression is less of a priority. It is also well-suited to semi-retired doctors continuing to practise, and those exploring a new specialty or location before committing to a permanent role.

Permanent employment tends to suit doctors who...

Prioritise stability, career progression, and long-term financial planning. It is particularly suited to doctors in training, those building a reputation within a department or community, and those who prefer the consistency and support of a defined team environment.

How to Decide

There is no universally right answer. The right choice depends on where you are right now, and it will probably change as your career progresses. These questions are a useful starting point:

What are your primary career goals over the next two to five years?
How important is income predictability to your financial situation?
Do you have family or personal commitments that require a stable location?
Are you in a training program that requires accredited positions?
Do you value variety and new experiences, or consistency and depth?
How comfortable are you managing your own tax, superannuation, and insurance?

If you are unsure, a conversation with a specialist placement consultant can give you a clear picture of what is currently available in your specialty and preferred location — for both locum and permanent roles.

Need Help Deciding?

Our team works with doctors across all specialties and career stages. Whether you are leaning towards locum, permanent, or a hybrid approach, we can help you understand your options and identify suitable opportunities.