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.
Genuine and unfiltered review: I am a Registered Nurse and have worked with multiple agencies. However, I have never felt as amazed as I do with the contract I am currently on with DNA Nursing Agency. Both Aruna and Sophie are wonderful. Since my first day with the agency, Aruna has consistently checked in to make sure I am doing well and addressed any issues I might have. No matter if it’s the weekend, she always answers my calls and happily resolves any concerns.
Nurse
DNA Medical Recruitment & Team members have been amazing to work with. Excellent services of support provided from start to finish for all of my contracts.
Special thank you to Martin! His professionalism has been exceptional. Martin’s positive encouragement and support given me the confidence to apply for and helped with new contracts. Always prompt, friendly and approachable to accommodate any needs.
Nurse
Good experience with DNA. Will and Andrew with whom I have dealt with work extremely hard to help finalise locums, very reliable and good communicators.
Doctor
If you are thinking about commencing a travel nurse journey, then I can highly recommend Lucy and the Team at DNA. I had tried on and off for almost 12mths and then it was Lucy who was able to secure my role in Tasmania.
The knowledge from the outset and the assistant along the way has been incredible. Nothing is too much trouble and the team are only ever a phone call/email away
Nurse
Chloe from DNA is an excellent recruiter. She communicates clearly from start to finish and provides constructive feedback and preparation for the interview. Her support was instrumental in making the experience both memorable and positive for me. I highly recommend hiring or leveraging her expertise.
Nurse
I have been with DNA Recruitment for almost a year now and my agent Ciara has been nothing but helpful along the way. She made the initial move to Australia less daunting and has always been there ready and willing to answer any of my questions. She’s locked in every nursing contract I have wanted, has taken the stress away and honestly has made my life so much easier. Thank you Ciara for being so amazing!
Nurse
I had a wonderful experience with DNA Recruitment Healthcare Agency. The agency is professional, supportive, and provides excellent opportunities for healthcare professionals.
I would especially like to acknowledge Aruna, who guided me throughout my entire journey. Aruna helped me with every step, from finding the right opportunities to settling into my nursing contract. She is extremely kind, polite, and always cooperative. Her support, encouragement, and positive attitude made a big difference in my experience.
Nurse
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!
Doctor
