Isn’t easier to just pay the locum pharmacist their invoice?
Paying the locum pharmacist on an invoice provided by the locum can be a trap. there are a few issues you need to consider before paying the invoice.
- Is the invoice coming from a company, partnership or trust?
- Is the invoice coming from an "individual" with an ABN?
- Is superannuation included on the invoice?
- Should superannuation be paid on this invoice?
The answer to the last two questions will depend on the first two questions. Superannuation might be factored in to the hourly rate on an invoice, but it is not payable as such as a separate entity.
And - if it is factored in - if the locum pharmacist is an individual with an ABN number, then even if you pay that invoice you may be liable to pay superannuation again and on top of the whole invoice amount.
Please see this blog post to have a look at some scenarios.
Invoice Payments
You can pay your invoices in any of the following ways. Please be sure to always include the invoice number in the description:
Option |
Institutions |
Link/Details |
Credit Card |
 |
Pay by Credit Card |
Bank Transfer |
 |
Account Name: PSOS CONSULTING PTY LTD BSB: 939200 Account Number: 549721724 |
How does Pharmacy SOS work out the hourly rate for pharmacists?
Pharmacy SOS is the most competitive on the market today, paying locums more than other agencies while charging pharmacies, making the process of locuming a much more pleasant experience for both the locum and the employer. One of the more common questions we get is what the the break down of the hourly rates when we pay our locum pharmacists... however as they change from time to time it is best you contact us for this information.
We remain the most competitive on the market. Where any competition can provide lower rates with the same guarantees and service, we will match or beat that rate in order to maintain our business with you. All you need to do is contact us and provide us with any form of written evidence.
Can you find technicians, dispensary assistants, or help with trainee pharmacists?
YES.
While we specialise in qualified pharmacists registered with AHPRA in Australia, we also offer the ability to list your staffing needs. Please visit your Employer Panel.
Do you still offer a “60 Minute Service Or Its Free”?
No, this service is no longer being offered as the majority of our clients appreciate our speedy work in finding the right locum for their pharmacy, so are not fussed about finding a locum with in 60 minutes.
Can I book a locum pharmacist online?
Yes! On the top menu choose Employers, then Book A Locum...
When will a new position be advertised?
In the first instance, we approach our current pharmacist databases and website in order to determine if a suitable candidate is available for any full time or part time positions you advertise with us. If we need to further advertise, we will then advertise externally on online sites at no extra cost to you.
What is “Sham Contracting”?
It is important to understand the laws and regulations around contracting if you choose to invoice the pharmacy. A document by the ATO will clearly explain this. Advice from your accountant is recommended.
The article can be downloaded here: Sham Contracting.
Pharmacy SOS will not provide any legal or tax advice in relation to this as it is beyond the scope of our abilities to do so, and we are not licensed to do so.
What happens if the pharmacist is not suitable?
As long as all invoices are up to date and paid on time, Pharmacy SOS will look after a replacement for you as soon as possible at no extra cost as per our Terms and Conditions. If you are not satisfied with a locum placement, please notify us with in 72 hours of commencement.
Note our fee waiver is covered for the first 72 hours, which we believe is enough time to determine if the candidate is not suitable.
Why choose Pharmacy SOS?
- Ever tried calling another HR company at midnight for an urgent shift?
- Did you get through?
- How much did they charge you for a placement?
All these questions point to some of the benefits we offer you. Our 1300 number is live 24/7 and including public holidays. If we miss a call, leave us a message, we generally get back to you with in 5-10 minutes.
And we do not charge any penalty fees. No matter what time of the day you call us.
How and when can I get in touch with Pharmacy S.O.S?
The most reliable way to get in touch with us for urgent shifts is via or 1300 number. This number is 99.9% live and will always be directed to a consultant. The other 0.1% of calls are returned with in 5-10 minutes at most.
By the way, you can really call us any time. We have had calls at 3am for a 9am start to open a shop and we have successfully filled the shift. With a smile! And at NO penalty or extra cost to you (We do not charge penalty fees. The only fee we charge is the daily placement fee).
Contact Us on 1300 505 247, any time.
Do you offer a permanent full time or part time service?
Yes we do! We have a large database of pharmacists who locum for us who are actively looking for part time or full time work.
By allowing us to tap in to our current bank of pharmacists, there are significant cost savings involved to you.
Our service for these roles comes complete with 100% satisfaction guarantees. See Terms and Conditions for more details.
Yes we do! We have a large database of pharmacists who locum for us who are actively looking for part time or full time work.
By allowing us to tap in to our current bank of pharmacists, there are significant cost savings involved to you.
Our service for these roles comes complete with 100% satisfaction guarantees. See Terms and Conditions for more details.
How does Pharmacy SOS invoice the pharmacy?
Pharmacy SOS will send an invoice at the end of the month with a seven day EOM term on the invoice.
The only exception is if the pharmacist is paid on our payroll system. This invoice is sent out once a time sheet is received and confirmed by the shop and is payable with in seven days.
How to set up a job alert for your state
Step 1: You need to click on “Start” in the Pharmacists (or Support Staff) panel and log in.
Step 2: You should now see your panel. One of the areas on the panel is an Alerts Panel. Click on Add Alert, or you can edit or delete an existing alert by hovering over it and clicking on the menu that appears below the title.
Step 3: Choose the options you need and click save. You can choose the frequency you get your notifications also.
Alternatively, you can set up an alert directly from the jobs board by selecting the options you desire, then clicking on “Alerts” or “RSS” on the hyperlink that appears and the search bar.
Options on how to get paid
Pharmacy SOS will only pay locums on the Pharmacy SOS Pay Roll. Here is why.
Pay roll is the easiest and fastest way to get paid. You get paid on a fortnightly basis with out having to wait for the pharmacy to pay nor have to chase any invoices. You know you will be paid on the fortnight according to the payroll calendar. To do so, please complete link in the confirmation email you received for your shift.
If you would like to speak to an accountant to seek professional advice, please contact our preferred accountants, BNS Tax Consultants Pty Ltd.
My pay was wrong, when can you fix it?
Some times we get it wrong! If your pay is for some reason not accurately paid, please let us know immediately and we will have it fixed on our accounting software straight away.
With the new STP reporting, it has become more difficult to fix up individual items as each pay roll needs to be submitted to the ATO. This causes inefficiencies and potential errors become harder to pick up, causing delays at the end of the financial year.
So we ask that you kindly be patient until the next pay run for the correction to be made.
Superannuation and Invoices
So you would like to send an invoice to the pharmacy you locumed at! But have you spoken to your accountant about implications of getting paid via invoice? Have you had your superannuation withheld, or did you include it in the invoice? What about GST - do you need to register for that and have you included it in your invoice? If not, have you put a zero amount on the invoice for GST?
When certain conditions are met, a person, even if sending an invoice for their work, will be considered an employee of the company for superannuation purposes and must therefore have superannuation paid according to the rules and regulations set.
** If you are a locum pharmacist with with an ABN and sending an invoice to a pharmacy, superannuation should be directly paid to your super fund in accordance with the Superannuation Contribution Guarantee. That is - it should not be paid to you directly on the invoice! If it is, the business may again be liable to pay superannuation on that invoice. Furthermore, you can not simply "factor it in to the hourly rate".
Furthermore, the pharmacy must also with hold PAYG from the invoice and report that to the ATO as though you are on their pay roll and are considered an employee by the ATO for superannuation and PAYG purposes.
Pharmacy SOS pays locums only on Pharmacy SOS pay roll and does not accept locum invoices unless you can show that you would not be considered an employee of Pharmacy SOS or the pharmacy by locuming through this ATO Tool.
For more information, please see below from the ATO website where you can also check out their decision tool to determine how you should send your invoice:
Contractors paid mainly for their labour are employees for superannuation guarantee purposes. This is the case even if the contractor quotes an Australian Business Number (ABN).
You must make super contributions for these individuals if you pay them:
- under a verbal or written contract that is wholly or principally for their labour – that is, more than half the dollar value of the contract is for their labour
- for their personal labour and skills – which may include physical labour, mental effort or artistic effort – and not to achieve a result
- to perform the contract work personally – that is, they must not delegate.
If you make a contract with someone other than the person who'll actually provide the labour – for example, with a company, trust or a partnership – you don't pay that person super.
Should you have any queries please so not hesitate to contact us directly on 1300 505 247 or e-mail us to sos@pharmacysos.com.au.
Alternatively, you may like to speak to an accountant to seek professional advice, please contact our preferred accountants, BNS Tax Consultants Pty Ltd.
Where is my Payment Summary/Group Certificate?
As Pharmacy SOS now processes pays through STP, we no longer provide locums on the SOS Payroll with a payment summary.
They also changed the name of these summaries (again), they are now called an "income statement".
This is how you can now get them:
- You will need to log into their myGov account, select ATO online services, click on my profile, select my employment and then income statement to access this information.
- If you use a registered agent to lodge your income tax return, they will receive your income statement information directly from the ATO.
- If you don't have access or cannot create a myGov account and don't use a registered agent you can call the ATO on 13 28 61 and they will provide this information.If you need help creating or logging in to your myGov account and linking to the ATO's online services, you can access information at ato.gov.au/onlineservices.
- (Direct link to this FAQ)
A new blog post on this topic has been written for 2022/2023 (Publish date 26/6/2023) : Accessing Your Income Statements for Pharmacy SOS Payroll: A Step-by-Step Guide
Two ways for you inserting your signature on the eTimeSheets and forms
Draw or Type
You can now choose to draw your signature on your eTimeSheet or change of detail forms, or type it in and have the pad represent your signature digitally.
The choice is yours.
Will my pay be processed during the holidays?
YES! We make sure pays are processed either on time, according to the Pay Roll Calendar, or beforehand. Our priority is to ensure our locums get paid on time every time.
Remember to fill in your time sheets promptly so we can process your pay.
How To Join Our Telegram Channel In Your State For Shift Notifications?
Should I upload a photo when I apply? What are some do’s and don’t’s?
Yes! Uploading a professional, passport style or similar head shot is a good idea.
However, it is only optional and is not distributed to employers.... it is however, used to gauge how you represent yourself. Here are some hints:
- DO take a professional photo, it does not have to be expensive, a home camera is fine but ensure it represents you as a professional.
- DO wear appropriate clothing.
- DO look sharp and focused.
- DO ensure that your photo represents you.
- DO Have a plain background. We want you to be the focus.
- DO NOT take selfies.
- DO NOT post holiday shots with lovely backgrounds. These are interesting but will not serve the purpose.
- DO NOT take shots in the shower, bathroom, or in a group of people. (Yes, we get those occasionally!).
- DO NOT wear casual or party clothing (for example singlets or gowns). A suite, white coat, or formal wear is appropriate.
Some of these may be stating the obvious... but the obvious sometimes needs to be stated :).
How do I improve my chances of getting locum work?
Locums: Let us know your free days
If you are a locum pharmacist you can help us give you more shifts and achieve an even faster turn around with our locum requests by letting us know when you are available to do locum shifts. There are two ways you can do this:
1. Let us know your availability on the locum availability form, where it will automatically register on our calendar so we can call you first.
2. Notify us by email, phone, telegram, Live Chat or SMS your availability one week in advance, for example every Sunday. One week is a good length of time as timetables can change quite rapidly.
Locums: Let us know your free days
If you are a locum pharmacist you can help us give you more shifts and achieve an even faster turn around with our locum requests by letting us know when you are available to do locum shifts. There are two ways you can do this:
1. Let us know your availability on the locum availability form, where it will automatically register on our calendar so we can call you first.
2. Notify us by email, phone, telegram, Live Chat or SMS your availability one week in advance, for example every Sunday. One week is a good length of time as timetables can change quite rapidly.
What is “Sham Contracting”?
It is important to understand the laws and regulations around contracting if you choose to invoice the pharmacy. A document by the ATO will clearly explain this. Advice from your accountant is recommended.
The article can be downloaded here: Sham Contracting.
Pharmacy SOS will not provide any legal or tax advice in relation to this as it is beyond the scope of our abilities to do so, and we are not licensed to do so.
How and when can I get in touch with Pharmacy S.O.S?
The most reliable way to get in touch with us for urgent shifts is via or 1300 number. This number is 99.9% live and will always be directed to a consultant. The other 0.1% of calls are returned with in 5-10 minutes at most.
By the way, you can really call us any time. We have had calls at 3am for a 9am start to open a shop and we have successfully filled the shift. With a smile! And at NO penalty or extra cost to you (We do not charge penalty fees. The only fee we charge is the daily placement fee).
Contact Us on 1300 505 247, any time.
How much super do I earn?
Super is paid according to the Superannuation Contribution Guarantee. The rates are changing as follows:
| Financial Year | Super guarantee charge % |
 |
|
| 1 July 2014 - 30 June 2021 |
9.5% |
| 1 July 2021 - 30 June 2022 | 10% |
| Years thereafter | According to the following schedule: https://www.ato.gov.au/rates/key-superannuation-rates-and-thresholds/?page=22#Super_guarantee_percentage |
| Up until 30 June 2022 - You are entitled to super if you earn >$450 per month or more before tax in a calendar month.
From 1 July 2022 – 30 June 2023, eligible employees who earn less than $450 per month will also be paid super guarantee by their employer if they satisfy the other eligibility requirements, at a rate of 10.5%. |
I registered as a pharmacist but I am not getting any notifications via SMS or email?
We need to manually enter all registrants in to our system. This is because we check who is registering with us to ensure they are qualified pharmacists. This may take a few days.
There are other reasons why you may not be getting an SMS:
- We generally reserve SMS as a last resort.
- Emails, facebook, web push, Telegram and twitter are reliable forms of communication. We prefer Telegram.
- Make sure we are in your address book. That way we wont be mistaken for spam!
- Did you register with the right details? Sometimes the wrong details are registered in to our system. Give us a call to double check.
- We also work on feedback from employers. Positive feedback plays a significant role in call you back specifically for new shifts... The better the feedback, the more shifts you get.
Keep in touch. By keeping us up to date with your available days we can contact you directly when we know shifts suit your calendar!
What do I charge for travel allowance?
Different pharmacies will pay different rates or set amounts to help you travel to their pharmacy as compensation. However, not all pharmacies do so and you should negotiate this BEFORE you begin or accept your shift.
Different pharmacies will pay different rates or set amounts to help you travel to their pharmacy as compensation. However, not all pharmacies do so and you should negotiate this BEFORE you begin or accept your shift.