How to Find Locum GPs for Your Clinic — A Complete Guide

Why clinics need locum GPs

Locum GPs are essential to keeping Australian clinics running. Whether your regular GP is on leave, you are covering a vacancy while searching for a permanent doctor, or you need after-hours coverage, locums fill the gaps that would otherwise mean turning patients away.

The demand for locum GPs in Australia has grown significantly, driven by:

• GP workforce shortages — particularly in rural, regional, and outer-metropolitan areas
• Increasing patient demand — Australia's growing and ageing population means more consultations per clinic
• GP burnout and leave — permanent GPs need time off, and patients still need care
• Fellowship pipeline delays — the time it takes for registrars to progress through training creates workforce gaps
• DPA requirements — some clinics can only access certain doctors, limiting their permanent options

For many clinics, especially in regional Australia, having a reliable way to find locum GPs is not optional — it is a core part of keeping the doors open and patients safe.

Traditional agencies vs direct marketplace

Historically, most clinics have relied on recruitment agencies to find locum GPs. Agencies serve a function, but they come with significant costs and limitations that many clinics are now looking to move beyond.

A marketplace like Heart Bridge connects clinics and doctors directly. Instead of paying an intermediary to make introductions, clinics and GPs find each other on the platform, agree on terms directly, and build a working relationship without third-party involvement.

This does not mean agencies have no role — for some clinics, the convenience of outsourcing the search is worth the cost. But for clinics looking to reduce expenses and build lasting relationships with locum GPs, the marketplace approach is increasingly the preferred option.

What locum GPs look for in a clinic

Understanding what matters to locum GPs helps you attract better candidates and build repeat relationships. Based on years of working with GPs and clinics across Australia, these are the factors that matter most to locum doctors:

• Fair billing split: Locum GPs compare offers. If your split is below market, they will go elsewhere. Transparency on billing terms is essential.
• Good clinical software: Best Practice and Medical Director are the standard. GPs avoid clinics with outdated or unfamiliar systems.
• Reasonable appointment times: Most locums prefer 15-minute standard appointments. Clinics that book every 6 minutes struggle to attract quality locums.
• Clear expectations: Locums want to know patient numbers, appointment types, available nursing support, and practice protocols before they arrive.
• Accommodation for rural shifts: For regional and remote locum work, providing accommodation is often expected — and can be the deciding factor.
• Respectful, organised environment: Locum GPs talk to each other. Clinics with a reputation for poor management or unreasonable demands will find it increasingly hard to attract locums.
• Prompt payment: Locums expect to be paid within the agreed timeframe. Delayed payments are one of the most common complaints.

Clinics that invest in making the locum experience smooth and professional build a network of GPs who are happy to return — reducing the time and cost of finding coverage in the future.

Setting competitive billing splits

The billing split is usually the first thing a locum GP evaluates. Getting this right is critical for attracting quality doctors while maintaining your clinic's financial viability.

Key considerations when setting your locum billing split:

• Market rates vary by location: Metropolitan clinics typically offer different splits to rural or remote clinics. MM 3+ locations generally need to offer more competitive terms to attract locums.
• VR vs non-VR rates: VR doctors (FRACGP/FACRRM) bill at the A1 rate, which is significantly higher than the A2/A7 rates that non-VR doctors bill at. Your split needs to account for this difference in gross billing.
• Bulk billing vs mixed billing: Bulk billing clinics need to factor in the lower per-consultation revenue when setting splits. The Bulk Billing Incentive payments (especially in MM 2+ areas) can help bridge the gap.
• Inclusive vs exclusive of expenses: Be clear about what the split covers — room, software, consumables, nursing support. Ambiguity causes disputes.
• Minimum guarantees: Some locums, particularly for rural shifts, may request a minimum daily guarantee. This protects them if patient bookings are lower than expected.

Lumi Clinic can help you model different billing split scenarios and understand what is competitive for your location and billing model. Ask Lumi about current market benchmarks for your MM classification.

DPA requirements for locum doctors

Before engaging a locum GP, you need to understand whether your clinic's location requires the doctor to meet specific Distribution Priority Area (DPA) criteria. This is especially important for locums who are IMGs or non-VR doctors.

Key points for clinics:

• DPA clinics: Can engage locums who are moratorium-affected (most IMGs, non-VR doctors). These doctors will need a locum provider number for your specific location.
• Non-DPA clinics: Can generally only engage VR locums or those with specific moratorium exemptions. This significantly limits your available pool.
• Locum provider numbers: Locum GPs working at your clinic need a valid provider number for your location. For moratorium-affected doctors, this is tied to the DPA status of your practice address.
• Check before booking: Always confirm a locum's VR status, moratorium status, and provider number eligibility before confirming a booking. Engaging a doctor who cannot bill Medicare at your location creates problems for both parties.

For a detailed explanation of DPA and Modified Monash classifications, see our DPA & Modified Monash Model guide.

Credentialing locum GPs

Credentialing is a critical step that protects your clinic, your patients, and the locum GP. Even for short-term engagements, you should verify the following before a locum starts:

• AHPRA registration: Verify the doctor's current registration status, registration type (general, specialist, limited), and any conditions or undertakings on their registration. Check the public register at ahpra.gov.au.
• Medical indemnity insurance: Confirm the locum has current professional indemnity insurance that covers the type of work they will be doing at your clinic. Most insurers require notification of locum work at new locations.
• Medicare provider number: Verify the locum has a valid provider number for your practice location, or has applied for one. For moratorium-affected doctors, this includes confirming DPA eligibility.
• Fellowship or pathway status: Confirm whether the doctor is VR (FRACGP/FACRRM), on a fellowship pathway (AGPT, PEP, EAP), or an IMG under supervision. This affects billing rates and may have supervision implications.
• Police check and WWCC: Depending on your state/territory and the services your clinic provides, you may need to verify a current police check and/or Working With Children Check.
• Immunisation records: Confirm the locum meets your clinic's infection control requirements, including vaccination status for hepatitis B, influenza, and COVID-19 as applicable.

Having a standard credentialing checklist saves time and ensures consistency. Lumi Clinic can help you build a checklist tailored to your clinic's requirements.

Managing after-hours coverage

After-hours coverage is one of the most challenging aspects of clinic workforce management. Many clinics, particularly in rural areas, are expected to provide some level of after-hours care, and locum GPs are often the solution.

Key considerations for after-hours locum arrangements:

• After-hours provider numbers: GPs providing after-hours services may need a separate after-hours provider number. This is particularly relevant for moratorium-affected doctors who may have an after-hours exemption.
• After-hours billing items: After-hours consultations attract higher Medicare rebates. Make sure your locum understands the applicable item numbers and billing rules for after-hours services.
• Practice Incentive Program (PIP) After Hours: If your clinic participates in PIP, after-hours services contribute to your eligibility and payment levels.
• Clear scope and escalation protocols: After-hours locums need to know what is expected — on-call only, face-to-face consultations, telehealth availability, and when to escalate to hospital or emergency services.
• Fair compensation: After-hours work should be compensated accordingly. Locum GPs expect a premium for unsociable hours, and clinics that do not offer this will struggle to find after-hours coverage.

Lumi can guide you through the specifics of after-hours billing, provider number requirements, and how to structure after-hours locum arrangements that work for both parties.

How Lumi Clinic helps

Lumi Clinic is a free AI guide that helps practice managers and clinic owners navigate the complexities of finding and onboarding locum GPs. You can ask Lumi about:

• Your clinic's DPA status and which doctors are eligible to work at your location
• Credentialing requirements and checklists for new locum GPs
• Billing split benchmarks for your location and billing model
• Provider number application processes for locum and after-hours numbers
• After-hours billing items and PIP eligibility
• Contract terms and what to include in a locum agreement

Lumi draws from 97+ verified knowledge entries and is available 24/7. Every answer is backed by official sources.

When you are ready to find locum GPs, Heart Bridge provides a marketplace where clinics and doctors connect directly — no agency fees, no commissions, no middlemen. Lumi provides the guidance; Heart Bridge provides the platform.