News
New GP parental leave supporting members
The RACGP policy will waive members’ fees for six months, while still allowing them to access full benefits and ‘stay connected’.
The college’s parental leave policy aims to continue supporting members and keep them connected during this ‘rollercoaster’ time.
Being a working medical parent has been described as a ‘balancing act’ and a ‘rollercoaster’, particularly during parental leave when income may be paused.
In recognition of this, and as part of ongoing ways to provide continued support for members, the RACGP has established a new Parental Leave Policy which waives fees for six months while a member is on parental leave, while still granting them full access to membership benefits.
Although membership concessions exist, until now the college did not have a specific policy for those on parental leave.
Dr Rebecca Loveridge, who is Chair of RACGP GPs in Training and has recently returned from maternity leave, welcomed the new policy.
‘It’s great that GPs on parental leave will now have continued access to their RACGP member benefits,’ she told newsGP.
‘Being a parent is a full-time rollercoaster of a job, and taking leave from practice can be daunting.
‘This policy supports GPs to continue to access education and events while on leave, and helps members stay connected to the college and the wider profession before their return to work.’
Eligible members are those who:
- intend to be on parental or carer’s leave for a period of at least six months, during which they will not be practising
- hold an Australian medical registration
- reside in Australia.
Under the policy, members granted a fee waiver will continue to have full access to membership benefits, including:
- the CPD learning platform or face-to-face education
- college member communications
- the GP support program
- voting in college elections
- conference member rates
- a place on any faculty, council or specific interest group.
Continuity of membership, for lifetime membership, will not be affected.
With the new policy in place from October, Immediate Past RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins
recently shared with members that the implementation helps to ‘modernise’ the college and thanked members for their feedback on how the college can better support them.
‘Members with no income due to parental leave may not renew their membership, therefore losing their eligibility for life membership, and we don’t want them to miss out on this opportunity for family reasons,’ Dr Higgins wrote.
‘One of the college’s
key advocacy requests is for governments to provide subsidised parental leave for GPs in training, so it only makes sense that we lead by example and also offer members support during this milestone time in their lives.’
While the RACGP will continue its calls for subsidised parental leave for GPs in training as part of wraparound support, Dr Loveridge says the implementation of its parental leave policy is a step forward.
‘Unfortunately, GPs in training don’t have access to the same benefits that hospital-based trainees are entitled to, and we know this is a significant barrier to doctors choosing to train as GPs,’ she said.
‘The college’s advocacy to the Federal Government to level the playing field is ongoing, but the member parental leave policy is a step the college has taken to address some of this financial burden.’
Eligible members can find out more and apply for the Member Parental Leave Policy via the
RACGP website.
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