GPs and other health professionals who take time away from work for parental leave can now apply for a reduction in their registration fees.
A 30% rebate on annual renewal fees is available for health practitioners who take parental leave and certain other forms of leave, effective as of the new financial year.
The change means rebates of up to $308 are available, depending on registration type, while a wider review of fee policies continues.
The rebate applies to practitioners who take leave for at least six continuous months on the grounds of a protected attribute, such as parental leave and other forms of leave such as disability and carer’s leave.
A practitioner can claim the rebate at the next renewal after the six-month period of leave ends.
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Ahpra chief executive Justin Untersteiner said registration fee arrangements were now fairer and more flexible.
“We have listened to concerns and understand the cost-of-living pressures that practitioners who are parents, are pregnant, or have disability or carer responsibilities can face,” he said.
The amendments came about after Ahpra established a Parental Leave Review Committee to consider a range of scenarios of fee relief in response to calls from practitioners.
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A wider review is currently looking at how a pro rata approach to fees can be implemented.
Work has also started to improve processes when transitioning between practising and non-practising registration, as the annual cost for this has now been capped.
The committee is expected to report by November 2025 with recommendations aimed at coming into effect by July 2026.
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