FACEM - Cooma

• Easter cover!
• $3,000 per shift!!
• Travel and accommodation provided

The opportunity 

The Emergency Department at Cooma Hospital in NSW represents a solid rural generalist opportunity within a well-supported but relatively small regional facility. The hospital has approximately 41 inpatient beds overall, while the ED itself is a Level 3 service with around 20 treatment spaces, including resuscitation bays, acute beds, and isolation capacity. The department typically sees about 30–50 presentations per day (around 12,000 annually), with a diverse case mix spanning trauma (particularly during ski season), general medicine, paediatrics, and obstetrics. The ED has also benefited from a recent redevelopment, delivering expanded treatment spaces, improved equipment, and better integration with inpatient and ambulatory services, enhancing both workflow and patient care capacity.

The location 

Cooma, located in the Snowy Mountains of southern NSW, offers an appealing lifestyle for locum doctors seeking a balance of meaningful rural work and outdoor living. Known as the “gateway to the Snowy Mountains,” the town provides easy access to major alpine destinations including Thredbo and Perisher, both within roughly 1–1.5 hours, making it an ideal base for skiing and snowboarding in winter. In the warmer months, the region transforms into a hub for hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and water sports across nearby lakes and rivers, offering year-round lifestyle appeal. The town itself has a welcoming rural feel with a population of around 6,000–7,000, yet still functions as the main service centre for the wider Snowy Monaro region, providing essential amenities, cafes, and a strong sense of community. Its proximity to Canberra (approximately 1–1.5 hours by road) allows convenient access to a major city for additional services, travel, and weekend trips. Rich in history and culture, Cooma is home to attractions such as the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre, celebrating one of Australia’s most significant engineering achievements, alongside galleries, heritage walks, and local museums. Overall, Cooma offers a unique mix of alpine adventure, relaxed country living, and accessibility, making it particularly attractive for clinicians looking to combine rewarding clinical work with an active and scenic lifestyle.

Essential criteria

To be successful in this role you must have:

• working rights in Australia
• registration on AHPRA
• emergency medicine experience