Locum Experience in Ballina, NSW – Dr Angela’s Journey with 1Medical

Dr Angela’s recent locum placement in Ballina Emergency Department (ED) offered a rewarding blend of professional growth, clinical variety, and coastal lifestyle.

Ballina ED is known for its close-knit team environment, supported by regular FACEMs and highly experienced nurses who ensure a smooth and collaborative workflow. The department manages a broad range of presentations, including geriatric patients, individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, and tourists with injuries or minor illnesses — creating a diverse and engaging clinical setting.

Dr Angela shared that her night shifts were made significantly easier thanks to the exceptional nursing team, whose expertise and teamwork contributed to a positive locum experience.

Outside of work, Ballina provided the perfect lifestyle balance. The region is renowned for its scenic coastal walks, fresh local produce and seafood, a vibrant Sunday market, and its proximity to the stunning Hinterland, all of which added to the enjoyment of her stay.
If you’re considering a locum placement in New South Wales, Ballina offers an excellent combination of clinical diversity, supportive teams, and coastal living.

Words from Our Doctor:

” Ballina ED is a closely knitted team with regular FACEMs and experienced nurses. Demographics and presentations swing amongst geriatric cohorts, people of disadvantaged backgrounds and keen tourist with injuries and minor illnesses. Overall, my experiences in running nights has been made smooth with excellent nursing soldiers. The town offers lovely coastal walks, beautiful produce and seafood, a cute local Sunday market and a short drive away from the Hinterland.”
– Dr Angela

If you’re a doctor interested in locum work 1Medical can help you find opportunities that match your goals, lifestyle, and clinical interests. Contact us on +61 2 7258 0100
au@1medical.com.au.

Enter our 1Medical Photo Competition for a chance to win a $200 voucher EVERY MONTH! 

To enter:

  • Email your photos and a written description of your locum experience at that location to marketing@1medical.com.au or directly to your consultant.
    Please include your full name and the location of the photo/s. For more information click here.

Locum Experience in Geraldton, Western Australia – Dr Natasha’s Journey with 1Medical

Dr Natasha recently completed a locum doctor placement in Geraldton, Western Australia through 1Medical, gaining both valuable clinical experience and the chance to explore regional WA. As her first time working in this part of the state, the placement allowed her to develop professionally while discovering some of Western Australia’s most iconic landscapes.

During her time off, she explored Kalbarri National Park, taking in the striking red rock cliffs, winding gorges, and deep red earth contrasting against the clear blue Western Australian sky. The region’s natural beauty was a standout highlight of her locum journey.

Her placement also included travel to Exmouth and Carnarvon for outreach clinics and surgical lists — expanding her experience across remote WA communities. One memorable moment was flying over the Western Australian coastline and landing on a red-dirt runway in a Piper Chieftain, offering a unique aerial perspective of the state’s vast and dramatic landscapes.

Words from Our Doctor

“I recently completed a locum placement with 1Medical in Geraldton, Western Australia which is a part of the country I had yet to explore. My family joined me for part of the stay, and on my weekend off we set out to discover the spectacular landscapes around Kalbarri.
The red rock cliffs, winding gorges, and brilliant red earth were contrasted against the clear blue sky.

During the placement, I also had the opportunity to travel to Exmouth and Carnarvon for outreach clinics and surgical lists. It was also a privilege to be able to provide surgical services in these areas. But it came with the experience of flying over the WA coastline and landing on the red dirt runway in a Piper Chieftain. The flights offered an aerial view of WA that I had not seen before.”

— Dr Natasha

This locum placement not only strengthened Dr Natasha’s clinical experience but also allowed her to discover new destinations, support regional health services, and connect with communities across Western Australia.

If you’re a doctor interested in locum work 1Medical can help you find opportunities that match your goals, lifestyle, and clinical interests. Contact us on +61 2 7258 0100
au@1medical.com.au.

Enter our 1Medical Photo Competition for a chance to win a $200 voucher EVERY MONTH! 

To enter:

  • Email your photos and a written description of your locum experience at that location to marketing@1medical.com.au or directly to your consultant.
  • Please include your full name and the location of the photo/s.

For more information click here.

GP Locum Doctor takes on the Barra Nationals Fishing Tournament

Our regular General Practice locum doctor Jarrod shares his hobbies and what he gets up to on his days off.

When Jarrod isn’t working as a locum doctor, he participates in a national fishing tournament called the Barra Nationals 2023. It’s a non-stop week of fishing and fun for Jarrod and his team as they compete against 69 other teams, to fish on the iconic Daly River.

Jarrod and his team were successful in catching a few fish!

We love hearing about our locum doctor’s stories, and the fun adventures they get up to outside of work.

1Medical proudly sponsored Jarrod and his team in the Barra Nationals 2023 Fishing Tournament.

If you’re a 1Medical doctor and want us to be involved in sponsoring your recreational activities, please contact us at +61 27 258 0120 or marketing@1medical.com.au.

Do you have a Jerry Maguire?

1Medical pride ourselves on a personalised, consultative service. Don’t just take our word for it – read our reviews.

Here is the latest review from a great locum doctor about our amazing Principal Consultant, Vicky Putt (nee Armer):

“It has been a pleasure working with 1Medical.

I have known and worked with Vicky for a very long time, and she is the very reason I moved over to a new locum recruitment company. I feel the company focuses on its ethos and principles much more than larger agencies by tailoring to what each locum would like to achieve with each placement.

The company focuses on making sure that everything runs seamlessly and smoothly and has great communication between the hospital and locum.

I always receive a friendly call the week I am in a new placement to ensure that everything is going well, and it is always great hear good feedback vice versa from the hospitals via Vicky after completing a locum placement.

Thank you for being there every step of the way from finding a suitable job, completing the credentialing, checking in when at the locum and lastly, after finishing.”

While some locum work can run smoothly from the outset, the reality is that many locum positions require a large amount of preparation and negotiations before they are finally set for a smooth run.

From the starting point when a doctor speaks to a 1Medical team member about locum work, the conversation is designed to explore what options are going to suit, and most importantly what may not suit.

Australia is the 6th largest country in the world and has a landmass of nearly 7.7 million square kilometres. Although there is a national medical board (AHPRA) the eight states and territories have a different governing health body running the public healthcare and hospital system. There are differences in both the clinical work in each of these and the way that a locum doctor can be engaged.

For example, in NSW Health the locum doctors are engaged and paid directly by the hospital, however, this can be either as a PAYG doctor, an ABN / Sole Trader or as a PTY LTD contractor. In QLD and Tasmania locum doctors are engaged and paid by the agencies. In Victoria, Northern Territory, ACT, South Australia, and Western Australia there is a mix of both above options operating. It can be very confusing unless you know these systems well.

With locum work options across the entire country working with a recruiter that knows the hospitals, paperwork requirements, the payment options, and how you physically get there makes a real difference, reduces your stress levels, and allows you to focus on what you do best – being a doctor!

Agreeing to locum work and getting a contract secured is the start of the process, not the end:

We find accommodation, track down hire cars in regional locations, and walk you through the credentialing process via our paperless electronic system Flows2Forms. On the way there we rebook missed flights, argue for you with car hire companies that have lost your car booking, give you directions over the phone if the accommodation is not on the map.

Once you get to the hospital, we check you are ok, ensure you get an induction, help with roster changes, and chase timesheets around medical administration inboxes. We view locum recruitment like the film “Jerry Maguire”. Our doctors are the superstars of the medical world. As high net worth individuals you deserve a true consultative and personal service.

Join 1Medical today and you can expect:

  • A dedicated, expert consultant
  • Unbiased market knowledge
  • Full assessment on your personal situation
  • Access positions in all states & territories
  • Highest rates negotiated
  • Payment methods to maximize your income
  • Weekly locum payment cycle
  • Visa / Sponsorship assistance
  • Paperless, electronic credentialing service
  • Concierge travel service
  • All carbon offset via our tree planting scheme

In the words of Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire: “Who’s coming with me?”

For doctors seeking a true consultative approach to finding either locum or permanent work options please get in touch with 1Medical today.

1Medical – Most Improved of the Pandemic – APSCo

We are proud to have been awarded the “Most Improved during the Pandemic” during last year’s APSCo Awards For Excellence for our performance across Q2 and Q3 in 2020.

Despite the pandemic and its challenges the medical market carried on and along with other healthcare professionals, doctors were at the forefront of the pandemic from the outset.

We are always greatly appreciative to these doctors that provide the ongoing locum work across the country.

It is not an easy task that doctors undertake in general, but in particular with locum work it often involves working away from home and loved ones for extended periods of time in regional and remote locations.

The Australian locum doctor market is very national, and sometimes international, with many doctors travelling interstate, from New Zealand and from further afield to provide critical clinical medical services across the country.

The travel restrictions caused significant disruption to the normal market but the show carried on regardless. Patients still needed treating, hospitals still needed doctors.

For insights into the medical recruitment market and how we reacted as the pandemic unfolded hear from from one of the 1Medical directors, Ryan Kevelighan…interviewed here by Nigel Harse of Staffing Industry Metrics.

Listen via APSCo here…

APSCO Podcast

“Give a Damn? Give a Day!” – if you are a doctor and want to help the planet then read on…..

Climate change is having an ever-increasing impact on the healthcare system and we only have a limited amount of time to make a significant change to try and avoid the consequences of climate change.

Dr Adam Shanley and Dr Lauren Kromoloff have decided to take direct action and are advocating other health practitioners to do the same.

“Give a Damn, Give a Day” is an initiative created by Adam and Lauren to encourage doctors to contribute financially to the fight against climate change by donating a portion of their earned income while completing locum work to charities that target these issues.

In support of this initiative 1Medical will be also donating a proportion of our agency fees.

Donations will be tax deductible and can be made directly from pre-tax income meaning you do not have to wait until the EOFY to claim the offset.

By engaging in locum work via the “Give a Damn, Give a Day” initiative you can support a health service in need, earn income for yourself and assist directly with the fight on climate change.

Locum work is an essential part of the healthcare system with many places only able to continue services by having locum doctors compliment their permanent workforce.

Presenting the 1Medical Mental Health Division

It is with great pleasure that 1Medical can announce the launch of our dedicated Mental Health Division due to the commencement of market expert – Benjamin Griffin.

Originally hailing from the UK, but now a permanent feature of Australia, Benjamin has many years’ experience directly in the Australasian Mental Health market.

With Benjamin joining the team, 1Medical now has highly experienced consultants working in three main pillars of the medicine market – Emergency, Medical Sub Specialities and Psychiatry.

If you are working in the field of Psychiatry, or related Mental Health area, it would be beneficial to speak to Benjamin, so feel free to get in touch.

Benjamin Griffin is available on +61 412 381 382 and benjamin.griffin@1medical.com.au or

CONTACT 1M