11 November 2026
How to become a locum GP in Australia
What a doctor needs before a first locum GP placement in Australia: Medical Board registration, a Medicare provider number, insurance, and what to check in the booking.
A locum GP covers a practice for a defined period. Before the first shift you need the right to practise, a way to bill if the clinic expects Medicare billing, and a written booking that says what you are actually being asked to do.
What registration do I need?
You must be registered with the Medical Board of Australia before you practise. AHPRA administers that registration. The type of registration matters: general registration, specialist registration in general practice, or a limited or provisional form of registration each come with their own conditions. Read the Board’s registration types rather than assuming a locum agency can “sort registration later”.
If your registration has conditions, the clinic and the recruiter need to see them before you are rostered. Conditions are not a footnote.
What else sits beside AHPRA?
Registration is not the only credential a clinic will ask about.
- Professional indemnity insurance. The Board’s registration standards require appropriate insurance. Confirm the policy covers locum work in the setting you are going to, including after-hours if that is part of the booking.
- A Medicare provider number. This comes from Services Australia, not from AHPRA. A clinic that bills Medicare will usually need a provider number for that location. Apply in time. A number for one address does not automatically cover another.
- Credentialing. Hospitals and some practices run their own credentialing. That can include references, a police check, immunisation evidence and working-with-children checks. Those checks are state and employer requirements, not a single national form.
How is locum pay set?
There is no single locum rate for Australia, and this article does not invent one. Permanent medical employment and contractor locum work are paid differently. Before you accept, get in writing:
- the rate and whether it is hourly, daily or sessional
- who pays superannuation
- who pays travel, accommodation and car
- what happens if the clinic cancels, or if you are unwell
- whether you are an employee or an independent contractor
If you are offered contracting, read the Fair Work Ombudsman’s guidance on independent contractors. A label on an invoice does not decide your status. Sham contracting is unlawful.
What should I check before a first placement?
Ask the practice, or ask us, and wait for plain answers.
- Which registration type the role needs, and whether your conditions fit.
- Whether you need a provider number for that address, and who lodges the application.
- The hours, on-call, supervision and the patient mix.
- The written rate, superannuation, travel and cancellation terms.
- Who employs you: the practice, or a recruiter.
When you are ready to be considered, register your profile. If you are a practice that needs cover, register the vacancy. A person from Jengu still talks the booking through. The form does not make the offer.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work as a locum GP in Australia without AHPRA registration?
No. Practising medicine in Australia requires registration with the Medical Board of Australia, administered by AHPRA. A locum booking does not replace that.
Is a Medicare provider number the same as AHPRA registration?
No. AHPRA registration is permission to practise. A Medicare provider number, issued by Services Australia, is used to bill Medicare. Many clinic locums need both, and a provider number is tied to a location.
Who decides the locum rate?
The rate is agreed for that booking. It is not published here because it is not a national figure. Ask for the rate, hours, superannuation and travel in writing before you accept, and check contractor arrangements against the Fair Work guidance linked above.
Does Jengu only cover South Australia?
No. Jengu recruits across Australia. South Australia is one of the places we work, not the limit of the work.