Deferring your membership

This applies to Full members only. Affiliate members cannot defer.

You can take a break from your membership for up to 3 years.

You might want to do this to:

  • care for family
  • take extended travel
  • work in a non-dietetic role

If you take a break from your membership, your Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) status will also be on hold.

This means you can't use the APD credential while you're on your break.

Deferring your membership

Before you defer your membership, please note:

  • If you are an APD, your APD status will also be deferred.
  • If you need to continue to use your APD credential to work until a future date, please wait until that time to defer.
  • Your name will be removed from the Register of Accredited Practising Dietitians, and Medicare will be notified of your change in APD status and the date of effect.
  • While your APD status is deferred you are not eligible to use the APD credential, and your dietetic clients will not be able to claim Medicare rebates for your dietetic services.
  • Before deferring your Membership and APD, please ensure you have logged your CPD online. This includes at least one CPD activity to each of your learning goals (minimum of 2) and completed 2.5 hours of CPD per month that you held APD status with learning outcome to each learning goal. One third of the completed hours must be professional competence CPD.
  • The maximum period your APD status may be deferred is 3 years from your deferral date.
  • Whilst your membership is deferred, you will not have access to any member services or communications.

Deferring APD status only

If you are a full APD, you may wish to defer your APD status and keep your membership active. 

Your APD status can be deferred for up to three years without needing to meet additional requirements when you return to the APD program.

If your break lasts more than three years, you will need to apply to re-join the APD Program via Resumption of Accredited Practising Dietitian.

If you have any questions about deferring your APD status, including how to return to the APD Program, please contact [email protected].

CPD requirements prior to deferring

Before deferring your Membership and APD, please ensure you have logged your CPD online. This includes at least one CPD activity to each of your learning goals (minimum of 2) and completed 2.5 hours of CPD per month that you held APD status with learning outcome to each learning goal. One third of the completed hours must be professional competence CPD.

Failure to complete your CPD requirements prior to deferral may affect your absence time and eligibility to return to the APD program.

For the period that your APD status is deferred, you are not required to meet CPD requirements.

Fees and payments

If you pay your membership in full for the year and then decide to defer, a refund is not provided (see membership policy). 

If you have paid your membership in full for the year and are experiencing financial hardship or there are extenuating circumstances, you can apply for financial consideration in writing to the Chief Executive Officer.  Please contact [email protected] for more information. 

If you pay your fees by instalment and defer part-way through the year and later wish to reinstate your membership in that same year, you cannot pay by instalment at that time. You would need to pay a pro-rata membership fee for the rest of the year, as well as any applicable administration fees. 

If you’re going on parental leave, we offer flexible membership options to support you during your time away:

  1. Need to maintain your membership and APD credential?

    Switch to the Reduced Hours category anytime during the membership year to keep full member benefits and your APD status. A pro rata credit will be applied to your account.

  2. Don't need your APD but want stay connected?

    Move to the Non-Practising Dietitian category to retain your membership while deferring your APD credential. A pro rata credit will also apply.

  3. Taking a full break from membership and APD?

    Submit a membership deferral request once your leave begins. This pauses both your membership and APD status until you're ready to return. If you're paying by instalments, any remaining payments will be waived once your deferral is approved.

When you change categories, you will receive a pro-rata account credit  (minus a small administration fee) to your membership account. If applicable, instalment payments will continue at the new category rate at the next instalment period.  


Learn more about our  membership categories and fees.  

Please note: Deferrals cannot be dated in advance. Please submit your application to defer only if you are ready to defer your APD status. 

*To receive this credit, membership with Dietitians Australia needs to remain current (not become lapsed or deferred) 

Defer membership or APD status   

More information about taking a break, can be found in the APD Handbook. 

Lapsed and want to defer?

You can still defer if your membership lapsed in the current year. Please note an admin fee of $55.00 applies for a late application to defer (i.e. after lapsing).

Questions?

Discover answers to our most commonly asked membership questions. 

For questions about deferring your membership, please contact [email protected].

For questions about deferring your APD status, including how to return to the APD Program, please contact [email protected].