Parental leave fee relief now in effect for GPs

2 minute read


Eligible health professionals can now claim a 30% rebate on registration fees after six months of parental or carer leave.


Health professionals taking time off for parental or carer responsibilities can now access financial relief, as AHPRA’s new rebate policy comes into effect.

A 30% rebate on annual registration renewal fees is available from today to eligible health practitioners under the updated parental leave fee relief policy.

The rebate, worth up to $308 depending on the practitioner’s registration type, applies to those who take at least six continuous months of leave on the grounds of a protected attribute, including parental leave, disability leave, or carer responsibilities.

Practitioners will be able to claim the rebate at the next registration renewal following the completion of their six-month leave period. The rebate is applicable only to future renewals, with timing aligned to each profession’s renewal cycle.

The rebate was announced in December, as reported by The Medical Republic.

AHPRA CEO Justin Untersteiner said the move reflected the agency’s commitment to fairness and flexibility in light of growing cost-of-living pressures faced by many in the healthcare workforce.

“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.

“Today is an important step in our ongoing process of making registration fee arrangements fairer and more flexible.”

In addition to the rebate, AHPRA has capped the annual cost of transitioning between practising and non-practising registration, addressing another common concern among those taking extended leave.

This new policy is part of a broader review into registration fee structures, including exploring a pro-rata model. That review is expected to deliver its recommendations by November 2025, with any changes anticipated to come into effect from 1 July, 2026.

The policy follows work by AHPRA’s Parental Leave Review Committee, which consulted with National Boards and used detailed financial modelling to shape the current rebate structure.

More information about the policy is available here.

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