AHPRA registration rebates begin

GPs who take parental, disability or carer’s leave can now get a 30% rebate on their annual registration fee.
 
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency’s (AHPRA) new fee relief policy is now in effect, equating to $308 for those registered with the Medical Board.
 
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 certain 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, with the rebate also available for future renewals.
 
AHPRA CEO Justin Untersteiner said the change comes as part of a wider review of fee policies, which is continuing.
 
‘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.’
 
The new fee relief policy comes after a Parental Leave Review Committee was established in 2024 to
review AHPRA’s fees and assess their financial impacts.
 
‘We know that fee arrangements can be a source of concern from some registered health practitioners,’ the Committee’s final recommendations stated.
 
‘This includes issues related to the cost of registration fees in some professions; lack of refund, flexibility or pro rata arrangements; lack of clarity of the overall costs and compliance requirements for returning to practice when transferring to non-practising status; and requirements for new practitioners to pay [a] full year again, close together.
 
‘While the current AHPRA fee setting policy aims to be neutral in applying to all practitioners, it is likely to impact practitioners who are pregnant or parents (or that have a disability or carer responsibilities) as they are required to take an extended period away from practice.’
 
Mr Untersteiner confirmed work has also started to improve processes when transitioning between practising and non-practising registration.
 
A review examining how a pro rata approach to fees can be implemented is expected to be handed down in November 2025 with recommendations aimed to come into effect by July next year.
 
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