Frequently Asked Questions

With over 30 years of experience in the medical recruitment industry, Brad Nelmes, Founder and Director of Best Practice Medical Locum Doctors, doesn’t just understand locum staffing - he lives and breathes it. His passion for connecting the right doctors with the right healthcare facilities has shaped a team that’s nothing short of exceptional.‍

‍Every member of our team is handpicked, not just for their expertise but for their dedication to making a real difference in Australian healthcare.‍

‍At BPMed, we go beyond filling shifts; we build lasting relationships, support our doctors every step of the way, and ensure healthcare facilities can deliver the best possible care.‍

‍That’s why at Best Practice Medical Locum Doctors, you’re not just another placement - you’re part of a team that genuinely cares.

Our managers and consultants have over 30+ years of combined local health, medical and business experience, comprising of the placement of medical professionals to various health facilities throughout Australia.

Since 2009, our company has proudly maintained ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Accreditation. With annual external audits and triennial assessments of our standards for providing locum medical officers to NSW public health organisations, our robust systems and processes consistently exceed service expectations.‍

‍As members of the Recruiting, Consulting and Staffing Association (RCSA) and an active member of the Association of Medical Recruiters Australia and New Zealand (AMRANZ), we undertake to provide all services with due skill and care and in a manner consistent with the highest standards.‍

‍BPMed is also on the approved supplier list for Australian public health facilities including the provision of locum medical doctors to NSW Health, Tasmanian Health, WA Country Health Service, NT Health, Vic Health, QLD Health, ACT Health. We also supply major private health facilities such as Ramsay Health Care, Healthscope, St Vincent’s Health, Healthecare, Adventist Healthcare, Macquarie Health Corporation, Aurora Healthcare, Calvary Healthcare, St Luke’s Care, and more.

For our partnered health facilities, our team is available to be contacted 7 days per week/365 days per year (including after hours, weekends and public holidays) for any urgent matters - including crisis shifts due to cancellations or unexpected increased workflow. Our processes and procedures have been designed specifically to ensure a time-efficient, effective result.

At Best Practice Medical, we’re committed to delivering exceptional results for our clients, and we understand that price is only one factor in choosing a service partner. That’s why we focus on providing outstanding service, always adhering to the highest industry standards to ensure your needs are met with excellence.

At Best Practice Medical, we believe in building long-term business relationships. This philosophy drives us to continuously improve our processes and assess our performance through your feedback. We encourage you to evaluate our service regularly, ensuring we maintain the highest standards and consistently meet your evolving needs.

At Best Practice Medical, we offer a range of tailored services to meet the unique needs of healthcare facilities. We provide short-term and occasional locum placements to complement your existing workforce, as well as long-term and permanent/part-time placements for more sustained staffing solutions. Additionally, we offer comprehensive roster management services, which can be either partial or complete, to simplify your scheduling needs.‍

‍Our sole focus at BPMed is to supply quality locum medical doctors to healthcare facilities across Australia. With a strict credentialing and vetting process in place, we ensure that every doctor we place is fully qualified and equipped to meet your specific requirements. We pride ourselves on offering personalised service, as we genuinely care about the success of your facility and the well-being of our locums, ensuring the right match every time.

Best Practice Medical specialises in securing locum opportunities for medical doctors with full, unconditional AHPRA registration. We work with doctors from mid-PGY2 (Post Graduate Year 2) and above, offering a wide range of placements. Whether you're a JMO, Registrar, VMO, or Consultant, we have exciting locum opportunities across all medical specialties.

BPMed offers a diverse range of locum opportunities tailored to your level of training, with options available in metro, rural, and interstate locations. We work closely with you to find placements that align with your availability and travel preferences, offering shifts that can range from one day to several weeks, or even extend to months with potential for ongoing locum positions. Whatever your schedule, we’re here to match you with the perfect opportunity.

Yes, you can! At BPMed, our team is available 24/7, 365 days a year, including after hours, weekends, and public holidays. Whether you need assistance with shift bookings, accommodation, travel enquiries, or last-minute changes (like late arrivals), we’re here to help. We also support crisis shifts when urgent coverage is required. As a BPMed Locum, you’ll always have a dedicated team in your corner, ready to provide advice and support whenever you need it.

Locuming offers an exceptional lifestyle, giving you the freedom to choose when and where you work, allowing for a perfect balance between your professional and personal life.‍

‍It’s an exciting opportunity to explore diverse healthcare facilities and clinical settings, enhancing your career while experiencing different work environments and cultures. Locum positions also help you expand your network, building valuable connections within the healthcare industry.‍In addition to flexibility, locum shifts often offer higher hourly pay, which can support your lifestyle, help you save for the future, or fund further training and education to advance your career. Whether you're looking to build cash flow or supplement your income, locuming is a great option.‍

‍Locuming allows you to work locally or travel across Australia, giving you the chance to work and explore all corners of the country. By working in various facilities, you’ll broaden your field of practice and develop new skills through exposure to diverse clinical scenarios and patient presentations.

The landscape of locum work is evolving, making it more accessible than ever for doctors. Locum doctors play an essential role in supporting the existing medical workforce and, in many cases, are an integral part of a health facility’s team.

As our population’s health needs grow and the pressure on the healthcare system intensifies, the demand for locum doctors remains high. They are crucial in filling critical workforce gaps - offering much-needed support to healthcare facilities, their teams, and their patients. By stepping in - often at short notice - locum doctors ensure continuity of care, providing essential coverage that leads to improved health outcomes. Their flexibility and expertise make them an indispensable part of the modern healthcare workforce.

Yes, we strongly recommend that all doctors, whether employed or working as a locum, have their own professional indemnity insurance. If you plan to work in private hospital positions, it’s essential to ensure your policy covers work in these settings, particularly if you're earning a wage or planning to privately bill patients. Medical indemnity insurance provides vital protection against any legal claims that may arise during the course of your work, safeguarding both your career and professional reputation.

Hourly rates for locum shifts vary depending on the role, location, and urgency of the shift. Rates generally range from $110 to $300 per hour, based on your level of training, experience, specialty, shift urgency and the location of the shift.‍

‍Crisis rates are paid for urgent vacancies and these are often in the $200 per hour plus range. Our team of consultants are experts at negotiating the best possible hourly rate for your level of experience and suitability.‍

‍For VMO/Specialist locum shifts, the daily rate typically ranges from $2500 to $3000+ per day, depending on the specialty and level of experience.

Payment methods can vary depending on the healthcare facility, but there are two common options:

As an Employee: The doctor is employed directly by the health facility and is paid according to the terms outlined in the employment agreement.

As a Contractor: The doctor works as an independent contractor, invoicing the healthcare facility for services rendered, based on agreed terms and conditions.

At BPMed, we handle the administrative side by arranging and submitting your invoices to the healthcare facility on your behalf. We also follow up on any outstanding payments, ensuring timely payment for your work.

Once you register with Best Practice Medical Locum Doctors, we'll request the standard credentialing documentation needed to work in both public and private health facilities. This typically includes your CV, qualifications, skills checklist, ID, contact details for three referees, immunisation records, National Criminal Record Clearance, Working with Children Clearance, and medical indemnity details. We streamline the process to make it as simple and efficient as possible for you.

Once we’ve processed your credentialing documents and received your references, you can let us know your availability. You’ll be able to search, view, and select shifts that suit you via our Doctor's Portal, email, or simply by giving one of our BPMed consultants a call.‍

Our team will support you throughout the entire process, including liaising with healthcare facilities, applying for shifts, negotiating crisis rates, confirming bookings, arranging travel and accommodation, submitting invoices, and following up on any late payments. We’ll keep you informed every step of the way, ensuring a seamless and hassle-free experience.

Yes, due to the credentialing requirements of both public and private hospitals, we require the contact details (name, position, hospital, email, and phone) of at least two clinical supervisors or consultants (or three for public hospitals) who have worked with you and can speak to your clinical and behavioural skills within the last 6-12 months.‍

‍If you're applying for a specialty role, such as ED, ICU/Anaesthetics, or O&G, two of your references must be from those specific areas. Your third reference can be from another specialty.

For rural and interstate healthcare facilities, mileage or flights are typically covered, and accommodation is usually provided by the hospital. BPMed offers a comprehensive concierge service, liaising directly with the healthcare facility to arrange all your travel and accommodation needs, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience for you.

Yes, international medical professionals can work as locums in Australia, provided they meet the registration requirements for their profession and hold full general registration with AHPRA. Additionally, a valid visa permitting work in Australia is required, unless the professional is working with a sponsored organisation or has secondary employment approval from that organisation.

At Best Practice Medical Locum Doctors, whether you’re a JMO, Registrar, Specialist, or GP, we offer placements tailored to your specific needs - whether you're seeking occasional, short-term, or long-term positions. The choice is entirely yours - when and how much you work, that’s the great part of being a locum with us.‍

‍You can let us know when you’re available, and our team will actively look for shifts that match your preferences, sending them directly to you. Our experienced and dedicated team offers personalised, one-on-one service to ensure you get fair, competitive hourly rates, and we handle all the paperwork, so you can focus on what matters most - your patients.‍

‍We provide access to top-tier private hospitals, including those under Ramsay Health Care and Healthscope, as well as a wide range of public healthcare facilities across Australia.‍

‍BPMed is committed to your continuous learning and growth, partnering with training organisations to offer exclusive discounts for our doctors. Our advanced recruitment technology includes a secure Doctor's Portal, giving you real-time access to available shifts, the ability to apply for shifts, manage your bookings, upload credentialing documents, view invoices, and keep your personal and financial details up to date - all in one place. Plus, you’ll enjoy exclusive BPMed Loyalty offers!