Locum Doctor FAQs

Question 1

Can FACEM consultants access roles before they're advertised?

Accepted Answer

Yes. AU Locums Direct works directly with Emergency Department Directors and Workforce Coordinators at 27+ WA, NT, VIC and QLD hospitals. Consultant-level FACEM vacancies are often filled through direct agency relationships before they reach general job boards. Register with us and your consultant will contact you when a matching role becomes available.

Question 2

How fast can an Emergency Medicine consultant be placed?

Accepted Answer

Most FACEM consultant placements are confirmed within 48 hours of registration, provided credentialing is in order. If you already hold WA Health or NT Health credentialing for the relevant facility, placement can be confirmed the same day. Urgent gaps — where a hospital needs cover within 48-72 hours — are our most common scenario and the one we're specifically set up to handle.

Question 3

Do you place Emergency Registrars as well as FACEM consultants?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We place both FACEM-qualified consultants and registrar-level doctors building toward FACEM fellowship. Registrar placements include confirmed supervision arrangements and clearly outlined credentialing requirements before you accept a role.

Question 4

What supervision applies to registrar-level psychiatry locum work?

Accepted Answer

Supervision requirements for psychiatry registrars vary by facility and health service, but all registrar-level placements through AU Locums Direct include confirmed supervision arrangements before you accept a role. We verify the supervising consultant, the supervision model (direct, indirect, or remote), and any facility-specific requirements. We don't place registrars into roles where supervision hasn't been confirmed.

Question 5

Do you place consultant psychiatrists as well as registrars?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We place both FRANZCP-qualified consultant psychiatrists and RANZCP advanced training registrars across WA, NT, VIC and QLD mental health services, including Graylands Hospital and NT Health. Consultant and registrar roles are distinct — each has its own credentialing requirements and supervision arrangements.

Question 6

Do you place Rural Generalists?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Rural Generalist Medicine is a distinct professional category we specifically place — not standard GP, but broad-scope practice combining Emergency Medicine, Anaesthetics, and Obstetrics & Gynaecology in regional and remote settings. We place Rural Generalists across WA's Pilbara, Kimberley, and Goldfields regions and across NT's regional and remote health services.

Question 7

Are FIFO arrangements available for regional and remote roles?

Accepted Answer

Yes. FIFO arrangements are standard for most regional and remote placements in WA's Pilbara and Kimberley regions and across NT. We coordinate flights and accommodation as part of the placement process — you don't need to arrange this separately. Most FIFO placements are 2-4 week blocks from Perth or Darwin.

Question 8

What documents do I need before registering?

Accepted Answer

To register with AU Locums Direct, you'll need: current AHPRA registration, professional indemnity insurance (we can advise on providers if needed), a current CV, two professional references, and confirmation of working rights in Australia. For specialty roles, additional documents may be required — your consultant will advise based on the specific role and facility.

Question 9

Is there a cost to register?

Accepted Answer

No. Registration with AU Locums Direct is completely free for doctors. We're paid by the hospital or health service when a placement is made — there is no fee charged to the doctor at any stage of the process.

Question 10

How does the placement process work?

Accepted Answer

After you register, a named consultant will contact you to discuss your specialty, availability, location preferences, and rate expectations. We'll match you to suitable roles and present them to you before any approach is made to a hospital. You confirm the roles you're interested in, we handle credentialing and the hospital approach, and most placements are confirmed within 48 hours.

Question 11

Do you work with doctors who are new to locum work?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We work with doctors at all stages of their locum career — from first-time locums who need guidance on rates, credentialing, and insurance, to experienced locums who want a more responsive agency relationship. Your consultant will explain the process clearly and won't assume prior locum experience.

Question 12

How quickly can you fill an urgent staffing gap?

Accepted Answer

For urgent gaps — where a hospital needs cover within 48-72 hours — we typically present credentialed candidates within hours of the initial enquiry. If the doctor already holds WA Health or NT Health credentialing for your facility, placement can be confirmed the same day. Call us directly on 0403 277 160 for urgent needs — a consultant answers, not a voicemail.

Question 13

Is there a fee to submit a staffing enquiry?

Accepted Answer

No. Submitting a staffing enquiry is free and carries no obligation. Our fee is a placement fee based on the role and duration, agreed in writing before any candidate is presented. If we don't successfully place a doctor, you don't pay.

FACEM & Emergency Medicine

Psychiatry

Rural Generalist & Remote

Registration & Process

For Hospitals

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