Finding Variety, Connection, and Balance Through Locum General Practice
Background and Path to General Practice
Dr Rotimi completed his medical training in Nigeria before relocating to Australia, where he successfully completed the required examinations to practise locally. His international training has provided a strong clinical foundation and a broad perspective, which has translated well into working across a range of Australian healthcare settings.
General practice appealed to Dr Rotimi for its scope and continuity of care. He enjoys the variety that general practice offers and the opportunity to work closely with patients across all stages of life. Over time, locum work became a natural progression, offering flexibility while allowing him to continue practising as a GP in diverse environments.
First Locum Role and Practice Experience
Dr Rotimi’s first locum placement was in Gawler, South Australia, marking the beginning of a career that would take him across both metropolitan and regional communities. Since then, he has worked in several locations, including Forbes, New South Wales, Mildura, Victoria, and Port Pirie, South Australia.
His locum roles have included work in emergency department settings, large super clinics, and practices serving highly multicultural and diverse patient populations. He has experienced firsthand how patient demographics can differ across locations, with younger populations more commonly seen in metropolitan practices and older, more complex presentations often encountered in regional settings.
Adapting to New Clinics and Systems
Like many locum GPs, one of the early challenges Dr Rotimi encountered was learning new practice software in a short period of time. Each clinic brings its own systems, workflows, and expectations, and adapting quickly is an essential part of locum work.
While the pace can be demanding, particularly in busy practices, these experiences have helped him build confidence and adaptability. Over time, moving between different systems has become one of the skills he values most in his locum career.
What Makes Locum Work Rewarding
For Dr Rotimi, the most rewarding aspects of locum work extend beyond clinical practice. Meeting new people, building professional relationships, and forming friendships have been highlights of his journey. Locum work has also provided the opportunity to travel across Australia, combining meaningful work with lifestyle experiences.
He has developed a particular interest in mental health, an area that features strongly across many of the communities he has worked in and continues to shape his clinical focus.
Advice for Doctors Considering Locum Work
Dr Rotimi would recommend the locum pathway to doctors who value flexibility, variety, and collaboration. He believes locum work offers valuable insight into how general practice operates across different regions and patient cohorts.
His advice to those considering locum work is practical: be friendly, open, and communicative. Taking the time to get to know the practice team and, where possible, familiarising yourself with practice software ahead of time can make transitions smoother.
Locum or Permanent Practice?
Ultimately, Dr Rotimi believes the choice between locum and permanent GP work comes down to individual preferences and work-life balance priorities. For doctors seeking flexibility, exposure to diverse communities, and the opportunity to grow through varied experiences, locum general practice can be a highly rewarding pathway.
To find out more and explore Locum opportunities, search our latest roles here and feel free to contact:
Amy Sullivan
Senior Consultant
National Locum GP & Rural Generalist Division
+61 416 370 196
amy.sullivan@dxcmedical.com.au
For many doctors, locum work is a temporary solution. For others, it becomes a powerful way to explore medicine, communities, and the country itself. For Dr Shoaib, locum life evolved into an experience that shaped his approach to general practice in Australia.
FIFO GP work isn’t about working more, it’s about working differently. If you like structure, autonomy, and the ability to plan your life months in advance, FIFO can offer a level of freedom that traditional general practice often can’t.
