Locum at Tomaree Hospital, NSW
About Tomaree Hospital
Tomaree Community Hospital is a small, well-resourced rural hospital located in the heart of Port Stephens. With a five-bed Emergency Department and a 14-bed general medical ward, the hospital provides short-term acute and subacute care, including palliative services. The environment is fast-paced but supportive, and medical officers work closely with nursing and allied health teams to ensure efficient and patient-centred care.
Key facts about Tomaree Hospital
Hours and On-call
Emergency Department:
- Day Shift: 08:00 – 19:00
- Night Shift: 18:30 – 08:30
Inpatient Ward/Fast Track:
- Standard: 10:00 – 19:00
- Peak periods (school holidays): 10:00 – 20:00
One medical officer covers the night shift, including both ED and ward responsibilities
There is no on-call required beyond your rostered hours. The night shift doctor is expected to remain onsite at all times and rest facilities are available
Location:
Tomaree Hospital, WNSW
Payment Frequency:
- Non-specialists are paid via HealthRoster. Timesheets are submitted internally.
- Specialists are paid via V-Money. Only one claim per month can be processed, so accuracy is essential.
Orientation
Doctors must complete Clinical Applications Portal (CAP) and MedChart training prior to their first shift. Orientation is provided on arrival, and a casual swipe card is issued for access to secure areas. Four forms of ID are required at check-in (passport, driver’s licence, Medicare card, and bank/credit card).
Why work at Tomaree Hospital
Tomaree Community Hospital offers doctors the chance to deliver meaningful, hands-on care in a welcoming and well-supported rural setting. With a strong emphasis on teamwork, respect, and patient-centred care, it’s an ideal environment for those who value clinical autonomy paired with solid nursing and allied health support. Doctors here are trusted to manage a broad mix of presentations, from acute emergencies to palliative and subacute care - making it a perfect fit for confident generalists or rural generalists looking to keep their skills sharp across multiple disciplines.
Beyond the clinical setting, Tomaree's location in the heart of Nelson Bay offers an unbeatable lifestyle balance. Work a fulfilling shift, then unwind on one of the region’s pristine beaches, explore local bush trails, or enjoy a relaxed coastal town atmosphere. With straightforward logistics (including travel reimbursement, comfortable accommodation, and no on-call outside rostered hours), doctors can focus on what matters: delivering excellent care in a community that genuinely values their presence.
The facilities and services at Tomaree Hospital
- Five-bed Emergency Department
- Fourteen-bed Adult Medical Ward
- Diagnostic imaging (X-Ray and CT onsite)
- Pathology (with regular courier collections)
- Allied Health (physiotherapy, dietetics, discharge planning)
- Pharmacy service twice weekly
- Onsite general practice for Triage 4 and 5 Fast Track patients
Complexities, inpatients, and ED presentations
ED sees a range of presentations, with medical officers responsible for patients triaged as categories 1 to 3. Category 4 and 5 patients may be managed by nurses unless clinical concerns arise. The inpatient unit primarily supports medical, subacute, palliative, and recuperating post-surgical patients.
Staffing Levels
- Medical:
- Standard: 2 doctors (ED and Ward/Fast Track during the day), 1 doctor overnight
- Peak: 3 doctors during the day including a second Fast Track doctor
- Nursing:
- Standard: 5 morning, 5 afternoon, 4 overnight
- Peak: 6 morning, 5 afternoon, 4 overnight
- Admin:
- Coverage from 07:30 – 21:30 (extended to 23:00 during peak periods)
Hospital team and culture:
Tomaree has a cohesive and well-functioning clinical team. Staff are familiar with the locum process and take pride in maintaining a calm, collaborative working culture. Communication is respectful and patient care is the clear priority.
Mental health support:
Access to both EAP and DNA's partnership with MyMirror
Impact on local community:
Tomaree plays a crucial role in delivering timely healthcare to the Nelson Bay and Port Stephens communities. With limited tertiary services nearby, the hospital helps bridge access gaps for patients who would otherwise travel long distances for treatment.
Accommodation & Travel details:
- Locums may book accommodation up to $190 per night. Pre-approval from the hospital is required
- Travel reimbursement is capped at $800. This includes return flights, hire cars, or personal vehicle mileage.
- Fly into Newcastle Airport (approximately 30 minutes from the hospital) or Sydney (approximately 2.5 hours by car).
Things to see & do in Tomaree:
Tomaree is set in the heart of Nelson Bay, a laid-back coastal town in the Port Stephens region. Known for its calm beaches, walking trails and marine life, it's a place where you can start your day with a swim or end it watching dolphins from the shore. The pace is slower here, but there’s no shortage of things to do—fishing, bushwalking, kayaking, or just relaxing at a local café. It’s well-connected too, with Newcastle about 45 minutes away and Sydney reachable in a couple of hours. For doctors working at Tomaree, it offers a genuine chance to unwind after a shift and enjoy a lifestyle that’s hard to find elsewhere.
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.
Doctor
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
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.
Doctor
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.
Doctor
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.
Anaesthetic Locum
Thank you Bev, you are amazing! I am impressed with how quickly you managed and sort things out! Thanks for advocating for me.
Doctor
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.
Doctor
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.
Anaesthetic specialist
