Locum at Cooma Hospital, NSW
About Cooma Hospital
Cooma Hospital is a 41-bed facility at the heart of the Snowy Monaro region. It offers emergency, inpatient, obstetric, anaesthetic, and limited surgical services under a strong GP VMO model. Presentations range from trauma and remote medicine to aged care and paediatrics, making it an excellent fit for confident generalists. Doctors here can expect solo shifts with robust nursing and allied health support, plus clear escalation pathways to larger centres.
Key facts about Cooma Hospital
Hours and On-call
Emergency Department (CMO):
- 0730 – 1530
- 1000 – 2000
- 1430 – 2230
- 2200 – 0800
- 24/7 cover; 1 doctor per shift
Ward Medical Officer:
- 0800 – 1700 (daily ward cover)
- Includes ward rounds, admission reviews, discharge planning, and JMO oversight
Anaesthetics:
- 0800-1800
- One doctor On-call cover 0800 – 0800 (shared roster)
Obstetrics & Gynaecology:
- 0800-1800
- One doctor On-call cover 0800 – 0800 (shared roster)
Location:
Snowy Monaro Region, Southern NSW LHD
Payment Frequency:
Payment via VMoney
Orientation
- Pre-shift: CAP, MedChart, infection control, PPE, fire safety
- Day 1: Report to Health Manager/Admin | eMR, MedChart & CAP setup | 4x ID required
- Orientation: Induction with ED Admin or NUM | swipe card, scrubs, contacts issued
- Ongoing: Doctors’ Professional Hub + My Health Learning modules
Why work at Cooma Hospital
Cooma Hospital is the main hub for the Snowy Monaro region, offering true rural generalist medicine with the support of a close-knit, experienced team. Doctors here enjoy:
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Variety & impact – ED, maternity, theatre, and ward work all in one place, with patient volumes that keep you sharp without overwhelming.
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Hands-on experience – ideal for rural generalists, procedural GPs, and trainees looking to broaden scope across anaesthetics, O&G, and emergency medicine.
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Supportive team culture – a welcoming, multidisciplinary environment where locums are treated as essential members of the team.
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Lifestyle perks – based in the Snowy Mountains, you’re an hour from Canberra and a short drive to the ski fields, mountain biking trails, and the Sapphire Coast.
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Community contribution – your work directly ensures safe emergency care, maternity services, and continuity for a regional population that relies on Cooma as its healthcare hub.
The facilities and services at Cooma Hospital
Cooma Hospital is a 41-bed rural referral facility providing a broad range of acute and community health services for the Snowy Monaro. Key features include:
- Emergency Department – 4 beds including a resus bay, handling 30–50 presentations daily (spikes in ski season).
- Inpatient Care – 12-bed general ward for medical, surgical, and palliative patients.
- Maternity Unit – 3 beds with 2 birthing suites, ~120–130 births annually.
- Theatre – capacity for general, gynaecology, obstetric, and minor orthopaedic procedures, supported by GP Anaesthetists.
- Specialist Units – 4-chair renal dialysis unit, outpatient oncology, allied health, and community mental health services.
- Diagnostics – onsite imaging and pathology available 24/7.
- Retrieval Services – no ICU/HDU; critical care transfers coordinated via Canberra.
- eMR: Clinical records
- MedChart: Prescribing
- CAP: System access
- Support: ICT via HNELHD (1800 463 428)
- Doctors’ Hub: Escalation protocols, rosters, handbooks
This setup makes Cooma an excellent fit for doctors who enjoy bread-and-butter generalist medicine with occasional trauma and procedural exposure, backed by clear escalation pathways to tertiary centres
Complexities, inpatients, and ED presentations
Clinical Scope & Complexity
Emergency Department
- Volume: 30–50 presentations per day (spikes during ski season with trauma cases).
- Case mix: Trauma (skiing, mountain biking, road), general medicine, obstetrics, and paediatrics.
- Acuity: Full spectrum CAT 1–5. Doctors are expected to stabilise and arrange retrievals for higher-level care (usually Canberra).
Inpatient Care
- Ward size: 12 beds.
- Patient types: Mix of general medical, surgical, and palliative care.
- Responsibility: Ward MO with JMO support; includes ward rounds, admission reviews, discharge planning.
Obstetrics & Gynaecology
- Around 120–130 births annually.
- Normal deliveries plus VBAC and assisted deliveries.
- GP Obstetricians manage birth suite, theatre, and antenatal/postnatal care.
Theatre & Anaesthetics
- Elective and emergency lists in general, gynae, obstetric, and minor ortho.
- GP Anaesthetist model with 24-hr on-call coverage.
Staffing Levels
- ED: Always 1 x CMO onsite + experienced RN and EN support.
- Wards: 1 x Ward MO, 1–2 JMOs, nursing and allied health team.
- O&G: 2–3 GP-Obstetricians on rotating on-call roster.
- Theatre: RN-led perioperative team with anaesthetic backup.
- Escalation: Nurse Unit Managers and the Director of Medical Services available for support.
- Diagnostics: 24/7 imaging and pathology onsite.
Hospital team and culture:
Cooma runs on a tight-knit GP VMO model where doctors, nurses, and admin work side by side. Locums are welcomed as part of the team, not outsiders. The culture is supportive, practical, and community-minded — strong enough to handle busy ski season peaks without losing its collegial feel.
Mental health support:
Access to both EAP and DNA's partnership with MyMirror
Impact on local community:
Cooma Hospital is the main health hub for the Snowy Monaro. With limited overnight services elsewhere, the community relies on locums to keep emergency, maternity, and inpatient care running safely. Your work here has a direct impact — providing continuity of care, supporting local families, and ensuring patients don’t have to travel hours for essential treatmen
Accommodation & Travel details:
Flights, vehicle and accommodation all provided
Things to see & do in Cooma:
Cooma sits between the Snowy Mountains and Sapphire Coast, making it a great base for both adventure and downtime.
- Snow sports: Skiing and snowboarding at Perisher and Thredbo (1 hr drive).
- Outdoor adventure: Mountain biking, hiking, fishing, and camping in Kosciuszko National Park.
- Day trips: Sapphire Coast beaches or Canberra city life, both around 2 hrs away.
- Local highlights: Coffee shops, country pubs, art galleries, and seasonal festivals give the town plenty of charm.
Whether you’re chasing alpine adventure or a quiet rural retreat, Cooma offers both within easy reach.
DNA Healthcare success stories
We’ve had the pleasure of placing thousands of healthcare professionals at hospitals and organisations across Australia. Hear about their experience with DNA Healthcare.
Beverley Anne from DNA Medical Recruitment was a pleasure to deal with. Honest, efficient and professional at all times.
Beverley is the best agent for me – she responds efficiently, goes above and beyond in finding me the most suitable shifts, checks up on me to make sure I’m okay almost daily and you can tell she genuinely wants the best for you. Thank you so much, Beverley, for making everything so smooth for me!
I couldn’t recommend Bev the team at DNA Recruitment more highly.
Having been away from hospital practice for 2 years, I was a little nervous stepping back into acute medicine. The team were very understanding and supportive and found a well-paid locum job in a very welcoming team in a Regional Hospital. There was always good communication, arranging all the paperwork and constantly checking in to see how the job was going, and the accounts team were very happy to work with my requests to enable sacrifice of pay to increase Super contribution.
A great experience. I would recommend to any who are looking to engage in locum practice to contact DNA Recruit.
Bev was recommended to me by another doctor, and I can see why. From our very first contact, she has been warm, encouraging, and extremely helpful. I’ve had some difficult personal circumstances, which I was afraid would affect my ability to work. Bev has gone above and beyond to find me work, and been incredibly supportive throughout the process.
I’ve worked with several locum agencies in the past, and most of them just do the bare minimum (which I don’t begrudge). But Bev has been an absolute joy to have as my agent, and I’ve already referred another colleague to her. Even Veronika in payroll has been very helpful, friendly, and accommodating. I haven’t worked with anyone else in DNA Recruit, but so far I have only good things to say about them.
Thank you Bey you’re adorable. I’m sure you appreciate how competitive the recruitment market is and it’s no secret i have dealt with several agencies (who often advertise the same opportunities) – but one by one shed them in favour of you because in addition to being so damn professional you have a genuine bedside manner which helps to make the tedious process of organising things trip after trip that bit easier – a fact which has not gone unnoticed, and I am grateful for.
Thank you Bev, you are amazing! I am impressed with how quickly you managed and sort things out! Thanks for advocating for me.
DNA Medical Recruitment provide a warm, caring service to Doctors, and they are an absolute pleasure to deal with. Bev is my consultant, and I could not ask any more of her. She is always ready to help, nothing is an issue and she bends over backwards to ensure that I am moving to a position that suits me. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending DNA to any of our colleagues, whether it be nursing or medical. Thank you Bev for all that you do.
I have worked with David over the last year and he is professional, reliable and always keeps me up to date with work matters. David also responds to emails and phone calls promptly which assists me with managing my work schedules. There were occasions in which David had to chase the primary employer for clarification few hours be for my shift, and David has come through with the necessary clarification. I would highly recommend David’s leadership and honesty when it comes to managing your locum placement.