A guide for anaesthetic trainees by Dr Claire
Balancing specialist training and parenting is challenging, but it is increasingly common and increasingly supported. Many doctors complete specialist training while raising children. This article aims to outline practical advice, parental leave entitlements, and training considerations for doctors in specialist training in Victoria, with a focus on anaesthesia but relevant to all specialties.
Reference document
https://amavic.com.au/insights/resources/current-enterprise-agreement-for-doctors-in-training
Parenting and Specialist Training: The Big Picture
There is never a perfect time to have a child during medical training. Training programs are long, exams are stressful, and rosters are unpredictable. However, many trainees successfully navigate training and parenting with planning, support, and knowledge of their entitlements.
A key concept to understand is that you have two separate systems to manage
- Your employment (covered by the Enterprise Agreement)
- Your training program (e.g. ANZCA interrupted training)
These operate separately and both need to be organised early.
When Is the “Best Time” During Anaesthetic Training?
This is highly personal, but common considerations include
Introductory Training
Often the most difficult time due to
- Must be a continuous 6 month period as per ANZCA
- No control over rosters
- Learning new systems and skillset
- Limited flexibility
Many trainees find this the hardest time to have a newborn.
Basic Training
More manageable for some trainees, but must consider
- Primary exam timing
- Study demands
- Rotations
A ‘good’ time can be post primary exam as study pressure is off and you are feeling more comfortable in your registrar role.
Advanced Training / Provisional Fellowship
Often easier because
- More seniority, it can be easier to regain skills.
- Exams potentially completed
- Greater flexibility for part-time work
There is no perfect time! All stages of training have both advantages and disadvantages. But hopefully with the right planning and support you can have a child when it’s right for you.
Your Rights: Parental Leave (Victoria Doctors in Training Agreement)
The Doctors in Training Enterprise Agreement 2022–2026 contains extensive parental leave provisions.
Key Requirement
To qualify for paid parental leave you must have
- 6 months continuous service within the public health service.
This is extremely important when planning rotations or contracts.
Types of Leave Available
- Paid Parental Leave
Under the Enterprise Agreement:
Primary Carer
- 14 weeks paid parental leave, or
- 28 weeks at half pay
Non-Primary Carer
- 2 weeks paid parental leave
This is in addition to any Commonwealth Government Paid Parental Leave.
Paid leave can also be
- Spread over a longer period
- Taken concurrently with government leave
- Paid in different arrangements by agreement with employer
- Long Parental Leave (Unpaid)
- Up to 12 months unpaid parental leave
- Must be taken as one continuous period
- Can request extension to 24 months total leave
- Short Parental Leave
- Up to 8 weeks unpaid
- Typically used by non-primary carers
- Usually taken in blocks of ≥ 2 weeks
- Flexible Parental Leave
A newer provision:
- Up to 30 days of long parental leave can be taken flexibly within 24 months of birth.
This can be very useful for
- Settling childcare
- Exam preparation
- Transition back to work
- Paid Parental Leave Pooling
If both parents are doctors in Victorian public hospitals, paid parental leave can be pooled between them.
This allows families to distribute leave more flexibly.
Important Administrative Requirements
You must
- Provide at least 10 weeks written notice of parental leave
- Notify 4 weeks prior confirm intended commencement date and end date
- Provide required documentation/statutory declaration
- Apply for Interrupted Training with your specialist college if leave > 12 weeks
Failure to organise this early can cause significant training delays.
Pregnancy at Work (Anaesthesia-Specific Considerations)
Anaesthesia has some unique pregnancy challenges
- Lead gowns (pelvic/back strain)
- Radiation exposure (interventional radiology)
- Long theatre cases
- Epidural lists while heavily pregnant
- Inability to leave theatre when nauseated
- Night shifts and fatigue
Having a chat to the person in charge of rosters is pretty important to help with the complex organisation required.
Many hospitals require a medical certificate confirming fitness to work after ~34 weeks.
Trainees often stop nights, on-call and heavy theatre lists earlier.
In any case, letting your supervisor know as early as possible is generally good practice.
Interrupted Training (Specialist College)
For anaesthetic trainees (ANZCA)
- Leave >12 weeks requires Interrupted Training
- Maximum interrupted training is typically 104 weeks
- Training resumes on return to work
This is separate from employment leave entitlements.
Returning to Work After Parental Leave
Returning to work is often harder than expected.
Important supports include
- Keeping in touch days (up to 10 days)
- Breastfeeding/pumping facilities and allocated breaks
- Graduated return, staging of supervision
- Part-time work arrangements
- Re-entry to practice plans (for some colleges)
Many trainees report
- First 2 weeks very difficult
- Improves significantly after 3–4 weeks
- Easier with subsequent children
Practical Survival Tips From Trainee Parents
Common advice from parents in training
Organisation
- Multiple shared electronic calendars
- Schedule childcare pickups
- Share schedules with partner and carers
- Plan study time early
Outsource Where Possible
- Grocery delivery
- Cleaner
- Laundry
- Childcare even when not working (for study/rest)
Backup Childcare Is Essential
Sick child + on-call = major stress without backup care.
Learn to Say No
You cannot
- Do every research project
- Attend every meeting
- Volunteer for every extra list
- Be perfect at work and home simultaneously
Studying for Exams With Children
Universal rule: Children will always find you when you try to study.
Strategies
- Early morning study or study post bedtime.
- Study at work, library not registrar room!
- Use childcare days for study
- Accept slower progress
- Study groups
- Online lectures/podcasts – listen whilst driving to work, folding washing, taking your child for a walk in the pram.
- Stay at the hotel at the exam location to allow full mental focus on the exam in the days leading up. This allows good sleep/rest and any last minute study/rote learning that needs to occur e.g. drawing out blocks. This should be guilt free as optimising your exam attempt will return you to your family!
Mental Health and Support
Parenting and specialist training is stressful and burnout can happen.
Helpful supports include:
- Other trainee parents
- Supervisors of training
- GP mental health care plan
- Perinatal mental health services
- Raising Children Network raisingchildren.net.au
- Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia www.panda.org.au
- Beyond Blue https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
- College wellbeing services
Seeking help early is important and common!
Final Advice for Trainee Parents
If there is one takeaway message
You can complete specialist training and have a family. Many people do.
But it requires planning, flexibility, support, and knowing your entitlements.
Key advice
- Read the Enterprise Agreement
- Plan parental leave early
- Talk to your supervisor early/roster consultant
- Arrange interrupted training early
- Organise childcare early. Plan and communicate your week of work/parenting then run the game-plan to reduce day-to-day stress and mental load.
- Accept that some years will be survival mode
- Build a support network
- Be kind to yourself
Most importantly — there is no perfect time to have children during training, but there are many ways to make it work.
