If you’re finding yourself to be bored or disengaged with your current role in medicine, pursuing new pathways as a locum doctor might just be the answer.
Becoming a doctor in Australia is a long and strenuous process, and certainly not for the faint of heart. To pursue a career in medicine, candidates need to finish Year 12 and graduate from a Bachelor’s Degree, which usually takes four years. From there, one then needs to complete a four year postgraduate medical program, before completing a year long internship in order to become fully registered – in other words, almost a decade of study.
On average, Australians change jobs once every three years. While this statistic would be less likely to apply to an individual that has dedicated over ten years of their life towards getting ready for a career in medicine, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t affected by the same things at work that the rest of us are. Boredom, a lack of purpose and even burnout can still affect doctors and general practitioners, which might help to explain the growing popularity linked to taking on work as a locum doctor.
A Day In The Life Of A Locum Doctor
By definition, the word locum is a term we use to describe a person who stands in temporarily for someone else of the same profession. In fact, the word locum is derived from the Latin phrase locum tenens, which means ‘place holder’. As such, the phrase locum doctor should begin to make a lot more sense.
Needless to say, the medical industry is big business, particularly when we consider the unlikelihood of demand slowing anytime soon. While the World Health Organisation estimates that there are approximately 10 to 15 million practising doctors around the world, it also means that there’s certainly a lot of sick leave, annual leave and sabbaticals that need covering from time to time too.
As such, the role of a locum doctor is to step into the shoes of a medical practitioner that needs to temporarily take a break from their position. In particular, hospitals and general practices may use a locum doctor to fill any gaps in their staff rosters due to planned leave or unplanned leave, which can include vacations, work related leave (such as attending conferences), or even if a full time doctor happens to fall ill and can’t perform their normal duties for any reason.
Hospitals may also recruit doctors in a locum capacity while they search for permanent staff, or if they are located in remote or rural areas that may find it particularly difficult to attract permanent doctors. A locum doctor may enter an employment agreement for a week, a few months or even a year, which is why it’s becoming an increasingly popular way for medical professionals to take a working holiday.
For doctors who are relatively fresh to the medical field, taking on work as a locum doctor has a wide variety of benefits commonly associated with these types of roles. If you’re a new doctor and are struggling to pay off student medical debt or build up your bank account, part-time locum work can provide the extra income you’re looking for as it often pays better than a more traditional, full time salaried position. Locums working in emergency, general surgery and after hours services usually attract a higher pay rate, but it’s also a great way to gain more experience in the medical field through diverse locations and patient presentations.
Pursuing Work As A Locum Doctor In Queensland
If you’re on the hunt for a locum doctor role in the Sunshine State, there’s a chance that you’ll either want to work a little, a lot – or somewhere in between. Queensland based opportunities with House Call Doctor offer flexibility, with shifts that fit around your current workload, personal commitments, or even just lifestyle preferences.
Whether you’re looking to increase your earning potential, gain experience, or even just have a desire for greater job satisfaction, opportunities with House Call Doctor offer local medical practitioners a chance to explore what out of hours and locum healthcare is like, while still retaining a sense of freedom and flexibility. If you’re looking for an opportunity to broaden your career horizons, are you –
- An Australian or Internationally Trained Medical Graduate
- Have full registration with the Medical Board of Australia
- Have two years post graduate experience, including experience in paediatrics, accident and emergency, general medicine and surgery
If you can answer yes to all of the above, then why not consider registering your interest for locum general practitioner doctor jobs with House Call Doctor today, and be a part of the medical revolution.
