The Faculty of Medicine understands that medical student-parents may have different needs to the general student population and has support available for medical students who are planning a family, expectant parents and students who already have children. This includes but is not limited to:
- Student Affairs services (e.g. advice, welfare and pastoral support, referral to GP / counsellors, assistance with timetable and leave)
- Financial assistance with GP appointments, counselling
- Hardship grants and loans
- Sick leave for self or children
- Access to breastfeeding room
- Peer mentoring
With advanced planning options when balancing parenting and medical school commitments may include:
- Leave during pregnancy, delivery and the post-partum period (for mothers and fathers)
- Study deferral for 1 year (2 in exceptional circumstances)
- Flexible quarterly enrolment in 6th year
- Reorganising modules to be completed over the summer holiday period to allow flexibility for time out of medical school during the year
- Timetabling assistance (e.g. order of runs/rotations)
- Re-scheduling end of module assignments, presentations and tests
- Swapping classes/tutorials
- Support around rural/out-of-town attachments (e.g. requesting location, being able to undertake rural requirements at locations closer to cities)
Guideline for support of student parents (PDF)
In addition, the Med Parents Facebook page is independently run by medical student-parents and welcomes new members (search for “MedParents (MPs)”).
For further information or to discuss any of these options further, please contact your Associate Dean Student Affairs.