| Veterinary Locumotion

🩺 Thinking About Locum Relief Work? Use This Checklist To Decide

Veterinary professionals of all kinds, from general practice vets to emergency clinicians, nurses, and technicians, are starting to rethink how they work, where they work, and why. For some, it’s about taking back control of their schedule. For others, it’s the draw of variety, the challenge of new environments, or the chance to work on their own terms. Locum relief work offers a different kind of freedom…one that can be flexible, rewarding, and genuinely fulfilling.

But is it the right move for you? The idea might sound appealing at first, but it brings real questions about income, lifestyle, and professional fit. What starts as a passing thought can lead to greater freedom and purpose…or to professional and personal disaster. Before you make the leap, it’s worth getting clear on what’s involved, where the real opportunities are, and whether the reality matches your goals…

✅ Find Locum Relief Work

🩺 Understanding Locum Relief Work

Locum relief work is the temporary replacement of a veterinary team member – usually to cover planned leave, staff shortages, or periods of high demand. As a locum, you step into an existing role for a defined period, often without long-term commitment. You might cover a weekend of emergency shifts, fill in for two weeks while someone is on leave, or provide regular help to a growing clinic that can’t yet hire full-time. Some people do this occasionally alongside a permanent job, while others work as a locum full-time.

You’ll find locum roles in general practice, emergency hospitals, specialist referral centres, shelters, and mobile clinics. Some roles last a day, others several months. In each case, you’re expected to slot in quickly, work with minimal onboarding, and maintain the same standards of care as permanent staff. The flexibility is real – you often choose when and where you work – but it comes with higher expectations for confidence, clinical competence, and adaptability.

There is also risk. Unlike a salaried role, locum work typically offers no guaranteed hours, no sick leave, and no annual leave. You may experience quiet weeks without bookings, or find that income varies month to month. Clinics may cancel shifts with short notice, and it’s up to you to handle invoicing, tax, insurance, and other admin. These aren’t deal-breakers, but they are essential realities to weigh up before you take the next step.

Ask yourself:

Am I comfortable working without the safety net of guaranteed hours or paid leave?
Would I thrive with more autonomy, or do I rely on structure to do my best work?
Do I feel confident enough in my skills to walk into a clinic and get started with minimal onboarding?

🤔 Is Locum Work Right for You?

Locum relief work isn’t just a different way of working – it’s a different way of thinking about your career. It appeals to those who value flexibility, independence and variety, but it also asks for a high level of self-direction and resilience. You’ll need to be comfortable walking into unfamiliar clinics, picking up someone else’s caseload, and working with new teams and systems – often with little or no orientation.

Personality plays a big role. If you enjoy solving problems on the fly, adapting to change, and learning quickly, locum work may feel like a natural fit. If you prefer structure, routine, and deep familiarity with your workplace and patients, it might be more challenging. Neither is better – but they are different, and it’s worth being honest with yourself about which environment helps you do your best work.

Motivation also matters. Are you considering locum work because you want more control over your time? Because you’re between roles? Because you’re burnt out and need something different? Each of these reasons is valid, but they come with different expectations and timelines. The clearer you are on what you want from the experience, the easier it becomes to make good decisions as you go.

Ask yourself:

Do I genuinely enjoy working in new environments, or do I just want a break from my current one?
Am I comfortable making confident clinical decisions without knowing all the background?
What am I hoping locum work will give me – and is that realistic?

💰 Financial Considerations

One of the main draws of locum relief work is the potential for higher take-home pay. Hourly and daily rates for locums are often well above those for salaried roles, especially in emergency, rural, or short-notice placements. But the higher rates come with trade-offs. As a locum, you’re responsible for your own tax, superannuation, insurances, and professional development. There are no sick days or paid holidays. If you don’t work, you don’t earn.

Payment models vary. Some clinics pay by the hour, others by the shift or on a per-case basis. You may need to invoice directly or work through a third-party platform, and payment timelines can vary from immediate to 30 days or longer. If you’re working full-time as a locum, income can fluctuate week to week, so budgeting becomes essential.

You’ll also need to factor in the cost of professional indemnity insurance, public liability cover (in some regions), CPD, licensing fees, and any accounting or admin support you choose to use. For many professionals, the flexibility and increased earning potential outweigh the variability – but that depends on your personal financial situation, goals, and risk tolerance.

Ask yourself:

Could I comfortably manage if I had a quiet month with limited shifts or delayed payments?
Am I prepared to handle my own tax, super, insurance, and professional expenses?
Am I attracted to the higher pay, or just frustrated with my current income?

📋 Professional Requirements and Qualifications

One of the most overlooked aspects of locum relief work is the level of professional responsibility it places on you. In most permanent roles, registration, insurance, and credential tracking are supported by practice managers or HR teams. As a locum, that’s all on you. You’re expected to arrive fully licensed, appropriately insured, and able to meet local compliance requirements with minimal hand-holding.

If you’re planning to work across multiple states, regions or internationally, you’ll need to confirm which locations require additional registration, documentation or verification. Some jurisdictions have mutual recognition, while others don’t – and getting caught out can mean cancelled shifts or legal risk. Insurance coverage also needs to be reviewed carefully to ensure it’s valid across all locations you intend to work in, including overseas if applicable.

You’re also responsible for maintaining your CPD, professional memberships, and any required certifications without reminders or internal systems prompting you. If you have surgical skills, ECC experience, or specialist training, those can set you apart in a crowded locum market – but you’ll need to ensure everything is current and documented before you promote your availability.

Ask yourself:

Am I clear on where I can legally work and what registrations or approvals are required in each location?
Do I have appropriate insurance cover in place for all regions I might work in – including internationally?
Are my CPD, memberships, and certifications up to date and ready to present to a clinic if asked?

⚖️ Lifestyle and Work-Life Balance Considerations

One of the biggest appeals of locum relief work is the flexibility – setting your own schedule, choosing when and where you work, and being able to say no without needing to explain. For some, that freedom can be life-changing. It opens up space for travel, family time, study, or simply a better rhythm that suits how you prefer to work. You can build your weeks around your life, not the other way around.

But that flexibility also comes with responsibility. Without structure, it’s easy to either overbook yourself or fall into long gaps without income. Some weeks will be packed, others unexpectedly quiet. If you have a partner, family or pets, you’ll need to consider how the unpredictability affects them too. Constantly shifting environments can also take a toll – even for people who thrive on variety, there’s a point where change starts to feel tiring.

There’s also the social side. When you’re always the newcomer, it can be harder to build strong connections with colleagues. Some clinics are welcoming from day one, others less so. It takes conscious effort to stay connected to your professional community, especially if you’re working in different places every week. Locum work can absolutely support a better work-life balance – but only if you’re intentional about how you structure it.

Ask yourself:

Am I confident setting boundaries and saying no, even when work is available?
How well do I cope with unpredictability in my schedule, income or environment?
Will working in multiple clinics affect my personal relationships or support network?

🌱 Career Development and Growth Potential

Locum relief work can open up unexpected career opportunities – but they don’t always appear straight away. Working in different clinics exposes you to varied protocols, management styles, workflows, and team dynamics. You’ll see what works well, what doesn’t, and what kind of environment suits you best. That kind of insight is hard to gain in a single clinic over many years.

There’s also a skills benefit. Locums often sharpen their adaptability, time management and communication simply by necessity. Some pick up additional competencies in ECC, surgery or workflow efficiency because they see so many different cases in a wide range of contexts. If you’re proactive and curious, every new placement becomes a learning experience.

Locum work can also lay the groundwork for future ownership. Observing different leadership styles, team cultures, pricing structures and client communication approaches can help you define how you’d run a clinic. And even if ownership isn’t on your radar yet, the professional network you build along the way may open doors you didn’t expect.

Ask yourself:

Am I looking to grow my clinical skills, or simply escape my current work setup?
Will working across multiple clinics help me figure out what I want next?
How can I stay visible and connected if I’m not tied to one team?

⚠️ Common Challenges and How to Think About Them

Locum relief work can be rewarding, but it’s not without its challenges. Many of them are invisible from the outside – especially if you’re only looking at the flexibility or the pay. The day-to-day reality often includes high expectations, quick turnarounds, and moments of uncertainty that permanent roles typically shield you from.

The most common challenge is walking into the unknown. Each clinic has its own systems, culture, team dynamics and client expectations. You might not know the software. The team might be short-handed. There might be limited patient history or a lack of handover. Even something as simple as finding the bandage scissors can become a time-waster. Clinics expect you to adapt quickly and work efficiently with whatever setup they have in place – and not every clinic sets you up for success.

There’s also the issue of continuity. Unlike permanent roles, you won’t build long-term relationships with patients or clients. You may miss the satisfaction of follow-up outcomes or feel like you’re always starting from scratch. Some professionals find this liberating. Others find it draining. Add to that the potential for last-minute cancellations, booking gaps, or travel hiccups – and you’ll quickly see that locum work isn’t just about showing up and doing the job.

Emotional isolation is another consideration. While some clinics will make you feel part of the team immediately, others may treat you like a temporary outsider. You might miss the casual team chats, the clinical debriefs, or the after-hours support that comes from being part of a stable crew. For those who thrive on connection and consistency, this aspect can wear thin over time unless you actively work to build your own network outside of the clinic setting.

Ask yourself:

How do I handle uncertainty, especially when walking into a new clinic with minimal support?
Am I okay with short-term relationships and limited follow-up with patients or clients?
Do I have the support systems in place to handle the emotional and professional isolation that can come with locum work?

🎯 What Will Success Look Like?

Before you take any concrete steps, it’s worth defining what a “successful” locum experience would actually look like for you. Is it about earning more while working less? Gaining exposure to new clinical cases and environments? Creating space to travel or reset your relationship with work? Or is it simply about buying yourself time to decide what comes next?

Success won’t look the same for everyone – and that’s the point. If you go in without a clear goal, it’s easy to drift or burn out chasing someone else’s version of what “good” looks like. For some, success might be three steady shifts a week with zero admin stress. For others, it’s building a reputation as a go-to surgical locum across multiple practices. Clarity now means fewer surprises later.

Setting even a loose personal benchmark helps you make decisions with more intention – what to say yes to, what to walk away from, and how to evaluate whether this way of working is actually moving you closer to what matters.

Define your version of success:

What I want to gain or experience through locum work is clear
I have a sense of what “good” looks like – and how I’ll recognise it
I’m prepared to adjust, reflect and refine along the way

✅ Final Decision Check: Is Locum Work Really For You?

Choosing to step into locum relief work isn’t a minor tweak – it’s a meaningful change in how you earn, operate, and engage with your profession. For some, it unlocks the freedom they’ve been craving. For others, it reveals challenges they hadn’t anticipated. There’s no right answer – only the one that fits your goals, personality, and stage of life.

By now, you’ve looked at what locum work actually involves, where the opportunities are, and what it demands in return. You’ve weighed the financial trade-offs, the emotional and logistical realities, and the potential for growth. If you’ve found yourself nodding along, feeling quietly energised, or imagining how this could actually work for you – you might already have your answer.

If you’re still unsure, that’s a good sign too. Locum work rewards those who go in with clarity, not impulse. Give yourself space to revisit your motivations and speak with others who’ve done it. When you’re ready, the next step isn’t booking your first shift – it’s preparing properly. And that’s exactly what we’ll walk through in the next article: what to put in place before you begin, so you can start strong and avoid the common pitfalls.

📝 Ask Yourself: Before You Start Locum Relief Work

🩺 Understanding Locum Relief Work

Am I comfortable working without the safety net of guaranteed hours or paid leave?
Would I thrive with more autonomy, or do I rely on structure to do my best work?
Do I feel confident enough in my skills to walk into a clinic and get started with minimal onboarding?

🤔 Is Locum Work Right for You?

Do I genuinely enjoy working in new environments, or do I just want a break from my current one?
Am I comfortable making confident clinical decisions without knowing all the background?
What am I hoping locum work will give me – and is that realistic?

💰 Financial Considerations

Could I comfortably manage if I had a quiet month with limited shifts or delayed payments?
Am I prepared to handle my own tax, super, insurance, and professional expenses?
Am I attracted to the higher pay, or just frustrated with my current income?

📋 Professional Requirements and Qualifications

Am I clear on where I can legally work and what registrations or approvals are required in each location?
Do I have appropriate insurance cover in place for all regions I might work in – including internationally?
Are my CPD, memberships, and certifications up to date and ready to present to a clinic if asked?

⚖️ Lifestyle and Work-Life Balance Considerations

Am I confident setting boundaries and saying no, even when work is available?
How well do I cope with unpredictability in my schedule, income or environment?
Will working in multiple clinics affect my personal relationships or support network?

🌱 Career Development and Growth Potential

Am I looking to grow my clinical skills, or simply escape my current work setup?
Will working across multiple clinics help me figure out what I want next?
How can I stay visible and connected if I’m not tied to one team?

⚠️ Common Challenges and How to Think About Them

How do I handle uncertainty, especially when walking into a new clinic with minimal support?
Am I okay with short-term relationships and limited follow-up with patients or clients?
Do I have the support systems in place to handle the emotional and professional isolation that can come with locum work?

🎯 What Will Success Look Like?

I know now what I want to gain or experience through locum work
I have a sense of what “good” looks like – and how I’ll recognise it
I feel comfortable adjusting, reflecting, and refining along the way

Veterinary Locumotion is brought to you by the Team that also drives Veterinary Jobs Marketplace, the leading global veterinary jobs marketplace…

Every Veterinarian, Veterinary Nurse or Veterinary Technician can now enjoy our elegantly simple, extremely flexible and highly professional platform. Publish your Profile and post your Availabilities – from just a single day to multiple days and weeks, and up to 400 days in advance – and be instantly Matched with Locum Relief jobs and work opportunities locally, interstate or internationally.

Veterinary Employers can now enjoy our elegantly simple, extremely flexible and highly professional platform. Publish your Business Profile and post your open shift Needs – from just a single day to multiple days and weeks, and up to 400 days in advance – and be instantly Matched with Locum Relief team members locally, interstate or internationally.

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Completely transparent. No agency fees. No hourly rate markups. No complex arrangements or middlemen. No payment delays. Employers and Veterinarians, Veterinary Nurses or Veterinary Technicians deal directly with each other. No-one in between, not even us!

Discover more about our Veterinary Locum Relief Marketplace and get all of the answers to your FAQ’s here.