Source: AMA Victoria Private Practice Subdivision
08 May 2026
He reflects on how medicine demands long hours, heavy workloads, and constant assessments, but says the impact is not shared equally across all trainees.
The column highlights that for women who choose to have children, the pathway through training becomes more complicated. While maternity leave is available, stepping away from training can disrupt progression, and many feel pressure to return sooner than planned.
It also notes that modern training pathways mean doctors are often older when they reach key career stages, making decisions about family life and career development harder to separate.
Financial pressures are also raised, including ongoing costs such as college fees, registration, insurance, and indemnity, which continue even during periods of reduced income.
The article describes how the demands of training and motherhood often compete directly, leaving many women feeling they are not meeting expectations in either role.
It also points to workplace expectations that have not fully adapted, with some trainees on leave still being asked to contribute to meetings, audits, and administrative work.
Associate Professor Rane reflects on past training experiences and notes that women in the workforce often faced stricter expectations and less tolerance for mistakes compared to their male colleagues.
He also highlights how ambition has historically been interpreted differently, often more positively in men than in women.
While acknowledging that more women are now entering medicine than ever before, the column says structural and cultural change is still needed to ensure training systems better support both career progression and family life.
It concludes by questioning whether hospital systems have evolved enough to allow doctors to work, parent, and maintain wellbeing without ongoing strain.
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