Have you thought about working as a locum?
Locum work provides the opportunity to:
- Generate income between permanent positions;
- Travel and explore Australia;
- Support yourself during further study;
- Meet new people;
- Be exposed to a variety of practices and new ideas.
There is a strong demand for vets with two or more years’ experience to fill short-term vacancies in Australia.
Some commonly asked questions:
Q. How much will I earn?
A. Locum vets commonly earn anywhere between $75 and $85 per hour plus superannuation.
If you work for 38 hours per week at $80 per hour for 48 weeks a year, your annual income would be:
$145 920 plus superannuation
Q. Is accommodation provided?
A. Accommodation is often provided in country areas and occasionally provided with city jobs. Accommodation is normally provided with fly in, fly out work (see below).
Q. Do I need to be competent with orthopaedic and complex soft tissue surgery before I can work as a locum?
A. No. Many roles are in multi-vet practices where existing vets can take on more advanced cases. Many practices refer difficult cases.
Q. Is fly in, fly out work on offer?
A. Yes. Jobs are available in cities and regional areas, and they include airfare, accommodation, a car, and a pay rate of $75 to $85 per hour plus superannuation.
Fly in, fly out work can be a wonderful opportunity to see Australia very cheaply.
Q. How long do vets normally work as locums?
A. Vets will locum for anywhere between a few days to 18 months or longer.
Q. Does Vetlink have work overseas?
A. As well as Australia we have locum jobs on offer in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and other countries. The demand for small animal and farm animal vets in the UK is very high.
The demand for dairy vets in New Zealand is very high.
The staff at Vetlink have been placing vets into locum roles in Australia and overseas since 1997. Our consultants can answer your questions, provide tips on being a “popular locum”, and help you make a start.
If you would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Last Updated: May 2024
DISCLAIMER: The above information is for guidance purposes only. Vetlink takes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information. The salary information is based on our experience rather than a salary survey. Vetlink is not responsible for the accuracy of the salary information.