‘It’s heartbreaking’: Why some female GPs are putting family plans on hold
GP registrars are left out of both employer-based schemes and the Federal Government's paid parental leave program, says Dr Sarah Bailey
Some female GP registrars with no paid parental leave say they can’t afford to have children because they are denied access to the Federal Government’s parental support scheme.
There are now demands from doctors’ groups to overhaul the means testing used to access welfare payments of $1510 per fortnight to a child’s birth mother for up to 90 days of leave.
Dr Sarah Bailey says GP registrars can be left with no maternity leave at all because many are earning above the $150,000 threshold but are working six-month rotations with no accrued leave.
As a result, the Perth-based registrar says although she wants to start a family she cannot afford to take time off given her partner is studying and has limited paid work.
