The spring school holidays have arrived — and for pharmacy owners and managers, that means staffing gaps are already opening up.
Victoria’s holidays started today (Monday 21 September), with NSW, SA, and other states close behind. If you haven’t organised your locum cover yet, now is the time.
The good news? We have locums on standby.
Spring Holiday Dates Across Australia
| State | Spring Holiday Period | Status |
|---|---|---|
| VIC | Monday 21 September – Friday 2 October | Started today |
| SA | Saturday 26 September – Sunday 11 October | Starts this week |
| NSW | Monday 28 September – Friday 9 October | Starts next week |
Across the country, the next three weeks are peak leave season for your permanent pharmacists — and peak demand for locums.
Why This Period Is So Challenging
It’s not just one thing. It’s several converging:
1. Pharmacists are taking leave to be with family.
School holidays are when working parents book time off. Your permanent pharmacists will want their share — and they deserve it.
2. Locums get booked out fast.
The best locums are snapped up early. By the time you realise you need cover, the pool has narrowed significantly.
3. It coincides with a seasonal health surge.
Spring brings hay fever, allergies, and the tail end of flu season. More scripts, more advice, more pressure on the dispensary.
4. Burnout is real.
If your team is stretched thin, mistakes happen. And in pharmacy, mistakes have consequences.
We Have Locums on Standby — Right Now
This is the part where we come in.
Pharmacy SOS has locum pharmacists on standby across Australia, ready to step in this week.
Whether it’s a single day of cover or a full fortnight while your pharmacist is away with family, we can help you keep your dispensary running smoothly.
Our promise to you:
24/7 human support — real people, real answers, any time
Compliance handled for you — payroll, super, WorkCover, all taken care of
Fee-free rescheduling — because plans change
Nationwide coverage — metro, regional, and rural
Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute
Every year, we get the same calls — mid-holidays, from pharmacies scrambling for cover.
Every year, some of them miss out.
This year, don’t be one of them.
📞 Call us on 1300 505 247 to book your spring holiday locum cover.
Or reply to this email with your dates and we’ll get started.
Warm regards,
The Pharmacy SOS Team
P.S. Need cover for a public holiday too? Those shifts fill even faster. Call now.