Hi rtdcap

It does seem a little strange.

Who is telling you this? maybe you should go one step further up the ladder or get a friend to ask at another HR department.

Maybe you could turn it around and ask if seeings as your contract is still running while you are on maternity leave will you still be accruing leave entitlements like holidays and sick leave etc- this may make them reassess their position.

I don't know for sure but I have a couple of cousins that are Drs in Victoria and from what they tell me it isn't like they are going to turn around and not offer you a contract on whatever terms you want when your current one expires but I know that that doesn't really solve the problem at hand.

Surely there is a union or similar that would know exactly what standard practice is - or maybe an employment advocate at the AMA?

Hope that you are able to sort it out.