You trained for years and you are good at what you do, but somewhere between the rostering headaches, your fixed salary, and the two weeks of annual leave, you started wondering if there’s a better way. There is and more Australian physios are finding it. Physiotherapy locum work has moved well past “a thing people do between permanent jobs.” In 2026, it’s a deliberate career choice. Some physios are earning more per hour, working fewer forced hours, and building clinical variety they never would have had in a single practice. Others are topping up income around family commitments or fitting in extended travel without resigning. This isn’t about the gig economy being great (it’s not always). It’s about what locum work actually gives you when you approach it with a plan.

What’s Driving the Growth:

Three things are fuelling demand for physio locums right now. Workforce shortages are getting worse. Across Australia, allied health clinics are stretched thin. Regional and rural practices in particular can’t hold onto permanent staff and rely on locums to keep doors open. That’s your leverage. Clinics are getting smarter about cover. The old model was “someone leaves, we panic and pay a recruiter $8,000.” Now clinics are planning ahead, building relationships with locums they trust, and using platforms that cut out the recruiter markup entirely. That means faster bookings and less friction for everyone. Physios are done waiting for pay rises. Permanent roles have a ceiling. Locum rates don’t. If your skills are in demand, you negotiate. The physios who’ve figured this out aren’t going back.

What Physiotherapy Locum Work Actually Looks Like:

Let’s be specific, because “flexible work” can mean different things. A locum physio takes short-term or casual shifts at clinics that need temporary cover. That might be:

• A week filling in while a permanent staff member is on parental leave
• Recurring Thursdays at a suburban clinic short on senior staff
• A fly-in fly-out arrangement for a rural practice in South Australia
• Picking up shifts across two or three metro clinics as it suits you

You set your availability. You decide which shifts you accept. You don’t owe a clinic 38 hours a week, a resignation period, or your weekend. The trade-off is less predictability. If consistent forward planning isn’t your strength, locum work will test you. But if you like variety and you’re organised about marketing yourself and maintaining clinical networks, the upside is real.

The Money Question

Locum rates for physiotherapists in Australia vary by location, setting, and specialty, but you’ll typically see hourly rates ranging from $55 to $90+ per hour (exc. super) depending on the clinic, the urgency of the booking, and whether you’re covering a niche area (like paediatrics, hand therapy, or neurological rehab). That’s meaningfully higher than many permanent salaries when broken down hourly and on HeyLucy!, there’s no recruiter taking a cut off the top. What you see is what you get. Clinics pay the platform fee separately, so the rate you negotiate is the rate that hits your account. Next-day pay is standard on HeyLucy!. You complete a shift, the clinic confirms it, and you’re paid the next business day. Not monthly. Not “end of the next payroll cycle.” The next day.

5 Things Worth Knowing Before You Start

1. You need to upload your Ahpra details. This sounds obvious, but you will need to upload your Ahpra number + expiry date. Forgot what they are? Too easy, jump on the Ahpra site and look up your number. 2. Professional indemnity insurance. You will also need to upload your professional indemnity insurance. We all have it, so upload your most current certificate and expiry date. 3. You need an ABN. An Australian Business Number is super easy to organise from the website or speak to your accountant. An ABN reflects your position as an independent contractor (AKA locum) 4. Build your profile. Clinics book locums when they can see your lovely face and see your work experience. Keep your profile full and up to date 5. Keep clear records from day one. As a locum, you’re running a small business. Track invoices and keep records. Sound tricky! Sure is, that’s why HeyLucy! does all the paperwork for you. You just need to simply put it aside for your account come tax time.

Why Physios Are Choosing HeyLucy!

HeyLucy! is a marketplace built specifically for allied health locums in Australia. It’s not a general jobs board, and it’s not a traditional recruitment agency. Physiotherapists can sign up, build a profile, and browse available shifts directly. No recruiter calling you at 7am to “check in.” No inflated margins making your rate less competitive. Just direct connections between physios and the clinics that need them. For clinics, the model works differently too. Physiotherapy practices looking for locum cover post a shift, review candidates, and book. The cost is transparent and the process takes minutes rather than weeks. HeyLucy! is a national company with shifts being posted all over Australia. Work all over Australia where ever the wind takes you.

Is Locum Work Right for You?

Locum work suits physios who:

• Value flexibility
• Want to diversify their clinical experience
• Are comfortable working independently with minimal onboarding
• Need to fit work around family, study, or other commitments
• Want to earn a higher hourly rate than a permanent role allows
• Like meeting new colleagues
• Like learning new ways of practicing
• Enjoys the variety of different working environments

Getting Started

The physios who do well in locum work tend to move quickly once they’ve decided. The ones who “think about it for a while” often find that opportunities filled in the meantime. If you’re a physiotherapist ready to take on locum work, create your free profile on HeyLucy! and start browsing available shifts. You can see what clinics in your area are posting before you commit to anything. The work is there. The rates are better than most permanent roles. And you’re in charge of your own schedule for the first time in your career. That’s worth exploring.

HeyLucy! is an Australian allied health marketplace connecting allied health practitioners with clinics that need flexible cover. Learn more about how it works for physios.

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