Locum Vet Surgeon in Australia

Locum Vet role. The Riverland, Berri $80 per hour. Nov 2026 to End of Jan 2027 (Flexible)

This is your chance to locum at a privately owned mixed practice with over 40 years of serving its community.  Run by a genuinely supportive, hands-on vet who believes great medicine starts with looking after the people delivering it. Ideally starting in Nov to the end of Jan, but this is flexible.

The caseload is predominantly small animal, with a rewarding mix of large animal, rural, and occasional wildlife work to keep things interesting. No conveyor belt consults, no burnout culture. Just good medicine, sensible systems, and a team that has your back.

The role would include working in their Berri hospital, performing consults (standard and complex) along with both standard and emergency surgery procedures. Afterhours and on call are essential so that they can help spread the load with their existing vets.

Nurses help with on calls, taking the phone and triaging phone calls overnight and on weekends. They also use Vet Triage (an external telehealth company that helps the nurses when they need a break too).

Wellbeing isn’t a buzzword here; it’s built into the structure. Open communication, realistic workloads, supportive rostering, and a workplace that actively strives to be positive, respectful, and psychologically safe.

The role

• 4-day work week, 8 hour shifts.
• Varied consults and surgery.
• Rotating on-call (weeknights + split weekends)
• Rotating shifts to branch clinics for consults and routine surgery.
• Remuneration is $80 per hour with on call retainer of $56.63 per on call shift.
• Fully furnished accommodation available.

You’ll thrive here if you are:

• A confident, compassionate vet with strong emotional intelligence.
• A team player who communicates well and adapts easily.
• Passionate about high standards of care and patient advocacy.

Why the Riverland?

The Riverland is one of South Australia’s best-kept secrets. Life moves at a calmer pace, but it’s far from quiet. Think river swims, kayaking, water sports, festivals, farmers’ markets, wineries, distilleries, and multicultural food spots, all wrapped in a warm, welcoming community vibe.

Commutes are short. Crime is low. Housing is affordable. The Riverland delivers a quality of life that’s hard to beat.

So, what’s next?

Forget the polished application; just reach out with whatever version of your CV you have on hand. We want to know the person, not just the paperwork.

Come and join our supportive team here at Riverland Vets.