GPs and other health professionals who take parental leave will soon be able to save on their annual registration fees.
From 1 July 2025, a 30% rebate on annual Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency registration fees will come into effect, alongside a wider review of pro rate fees.
It is hoped the move will provide financial relief for practitioners who take parental leave and other forms of protected leave such as disability and carer’s leave.
For a medical practitioner with general registration, this rebate equates to a reduction in the annual fee of $308, following six months of parental leave.
Ahpra chief executive Martin Fletcher said it was the first step to addressing financial concerns raised by registrants.
“At a time of cost-of-living pressures, we recognise the current fee arrangements can have a big impact on practitioners who are parents or are pregnant, and those who have disability or carer responsibilities, as they may be required to take extended leave away from practice,” he said.
The rebate will apply to those who have taken at least six months protected leave during the 2024-25 registration year.
Registration fees are the primary source of Ahpra’s income. Medical Board of Australia fees were raised to $1027 for 2024-25, an increase of $32 on the previous year.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia fees remained frozen at $154 for 2024-25, as did the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia fees which remained at $185.
The Pharmacy Board of Australia set its registration fees at $470, an increase of $18.
Once the rebate is applied, practitioners registered with the Medical Board of Australia will see their fees drop to around $719 for this registration period.
Further steps have been taken to improve processes when transitioning between practising and non-practising registration, which the regulator hopes will make the registration fees system more flexible and responsive.
Mr Fletcher said: “We have capped the annual cost to practitioners transferring between practising and non-practising within a registration year.”
The regulator will now look at a wider pro-rate approach to fees, meaning practitioners fees could be based on their income rather than it following a one-size-fits-all approach.
“Ahpra is keen to identify other areas where we can streamline fee arrangements for the benefit of practitioners,” Mr Fletcher said.