GP Recruitment — Locum & Permanent
Find a GP — Metro, Regional and Rural Australia
Urgent cover? Call 03 9419 4814
GP vacancy rates sit above 40% in regional Australia, and even metro practices are feeling the pressure of leave coverage, parental leave, and partner departures. An unfilled half-day session costs between $1,500 and $3,000 in lost billing. An unfilled week is a staffing crisis.
Medcare by Caretakers Australia maintains a pipeline of credentialed GPs available for short-notice locum cover and permanent placement. We work nationally — from suburban group practices to remote single-handed clinics.
Locum GP (on-hire / labour hire) — short notice and planned
Whether you need cover for next Monday or you're planning three months ahead, we work the same way: understand your practice first, then find the right GP for it.
We recruit for:
- Leave and holiday cover (planned and short-notice)
- Parental leave coverage — weeks to months
- Gap cover while a permanent GP is being recruited
- Ongoing locum arrangements for practices with variable demand
- Rural and remote roster relief
Locum day rates (market benchmarks, 2026)
$1,500 – $2,200/day
Metro
$2,000 – $3,000/day
Regional
$3,000 – $4,000/day
Remote / high-need
Rates vary by location, duration, session structure, and specialty mix. We discuss actuals at enquiry — no hidden fees, no surprises at invoice.
Permanent GP recruitment
If you're recruiting a permanent GP, you already know the risks: the wrong cultural fit disrupts your team and your patients, and the recruitment cycle costs you months of lost productivity.
Our permanent recruitment process starts before we shortlist. We spend time understanding your practice's culture, patient demographic, billing model, and what your current team needs in a colleague. We don't present a candidate we wouldn't put forward to a practice we work in ourselves.
What's included:
- Detailed needs assessment (one call, 30–45 minutes)
- Candidate sourcing from our GP network plus targeted advertising
- Screening, credentialing, and reference checking
- Shortlist of 2–3 qualified candidates with written profiles
- Interview facilitation and offer support
- 90-day replacement guarantee if the placement doesn't work out
Fee: 12–18% of first-year base salary, payable on placement. No fee if no placement.
International Medical Graduates — extended pipeline
Rural and regional practices often can't find what they need in the domestic market. Medcare by Caretakers Australia maintains active relationships with postgraduate medical institutions in the UK, Ireland, India, and Sri Lanka. We engage international GP candidates 6–8 months before they complete training.
We partner with a registered migration agent and provide end-to-end support: visa pathway, AHPRA registration, AMC assessment support, and placement — coordinated under one engagement.
Every GP we place is compliance-ready
Before you meet any candidate we present, we've confirmed:
- Current AHPRA registration (medical) — no conditions or restrictions
- Appropriate medical indemnity cover (MDA National, MIPS, Avant or equivalent)
- Working rights verification (citizen, PR, or appropriate visa)
- Any required background checks for the setting
For rural and remote placements, we also confirm ACRRM or RACGP fellowship status and confirm FIFO or relocation requirements upfront.
How to get started
Step 1: Submit the enquiry form below or call 03 9419 4814
Step 2: We'll call you within one business day to understand your practice and timing
Step 3: Within 3–5 business days for locum / 5–10 for permanent, we'll have a shortlist
For urgent locum needs — within 48 hours — call us directly. We maintain an active pool of available GPs for short-notice requests.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly can you fill a locum GP role?
For standard metro and regional roles, typically 3–7 business days. For urgent cover (less than 48 hours), call rather than email — we maintain an active pool for short-notice requests.
Do you cover bulk-billing practices?
Yes. We recruit GPs who are comfortable in bulk-billing, mixed-billing, and private-billing environments. We'll match the candidate to your model.
What if the GP isn't a good fit?
For permanent placements, we offer a 90-day replacement guarantee. For locum placements, we'll replace within 24 hours where possible if a serious issue arises.
Can you find GPs for rural or remote locations?
Yes — this is one of our active focus areas. We recruit internationally specifically for regional and remote placements where domestic supply is insufficient.
Tell us about the role
Call 03 9419 4814 or submit an enquiry below.