Maximise Your Locum Income

Who Am I?

• Managing Director of Beat Health

• Previously a JMO Manager, and in-house recruiter for NSW Health, International SOS, and ADF

Ground Rules and Features• This is being recorded

• Hands Up

• Ask A Question

• I can’t answer any individual career related questions

• Microphone

• Let me know if you can’t hear me at any point

Who can locum?• Appropriate medical registration

• General and/or Specialist

• The right to work in Australia

• Australian Citizen

• Permanent Resident

• NZ Citizen

• Some visas

• Appropriate qualifications/experience for the job

• Provider number considerations (Urgent + 6 month rule)

What is locum work?

• Temporary

• Covering planned or unexpected leave

• Backfilling a long term vacancy

• Fulfilling a workforce requirement

Attributes of a successful locum

•Decisive•Flexible•Honest•Organised •Adaptable •Have a plan B

Where to work?

1. New South Wales2. Queensland3. Western Australia4. Northern Territory5. South Australia6. Australian Capital Territory7. Tasmania8. Victoria

What Influences Rate?

•Supply and demand (more supply = lower rate)•Location•Timeframe (tight timeframe before shift = higher rate)

•Government Policy•Your negotiation ability•Expansion of medical facilities•The ‘Part-Timeisation’ of the workforce

Indicative Pay Rates•Sub-specialist Surgeons (especially Plastics) – $3000 per day

•Consultant Specialists – $1800-$2500 per day

•Senior (Non-Specialist) ED (e.g. CMOs) – $1600-$2000 per day

•Procedural GPs – $1500-$2000 per day

•GPs in family practice – $120-$170 per hour / 65-75%

•ED Registrars – $100-$180 per hour

•Ward Registrars – $80-$150 per hour

•RMO (Ward or ED) – $75 – $145 per hour

How You’re Paid

•Employee•Sole Trader •Pty Ltd•Agency•Combination

Added Extras

•Travel •Accommodation •Car•Mileage/Taxis/Meals•Paid Travel Time

Negotiating More

•Compare•Wait vs book ahead•Solve a problem•Establish a relationship•Compromise•Walk away•Let someone else do it

Waiting vs Booking Ahead

Booking Ahead Waiting/Last MinuteJohn books 10 x 9 hour shifts @ $120 per hour, 8 weeks

ahead.Total hours worked =

90Gross income = $10,800

Terri books 5 x 12 hour shifts @ $180 per hour, 3 days

ahead.Total hours worked =

72Gross income = $10,800

Working Patterns

•Depends on location, job, etc•Locum work is often the work that others don’t want

•Can range from a few hours, to months or years

•Most common is a 4 weeks on, a couple of weeks off

Getting Ready

•Know what you want (job/location/timing/money)•Have clear dates in mind (including when you can’t work)•Decide on some concrete rules/boundaries•Are you being realistic?•Use a diary/calendar to track your work•Talk to your partner/family•Talk to your accountant•Get your documents together•Make sure you have the appropriate registration category •Decide whether to work with an agency

Finding Shifts

•Friends/colleagues• Job websites •College job pages•Call employers•Agencies

Locum Agencies

•You don’t need an agency if you are in a candidate-rich specialty/area

•Consider an agency if there is an obvious shortage•Beware ‘shift lists’•There’s not always a huge variation in jobs•An agency should provide you with job options, negotiate, and help with logistics

•Talk to a few agencies, then decide on one•Agencies are paid as a percentage of your rate or a set fee

Locuming FAQs

•Can I work as a locum in Sydney or Melbourne?•Can your agency accept references/police check/etc from another agency?

•Can I fly earlier/later so I can explore the area?•How long before I want to locum should I contact an agency?

•How much does an agency cost me?

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