Parental Leave Rights in Australia

Parental Leave in Australia — Two Separate Systems

Parental leave in Australia comes from two sources: the government-funded Paid Parental Leave (PPL) scheme and the unpaid parental leave entitlement under the Fair Work Act. These operate separately and you may be entitled to both.

Government Paid Parental Leave (PPL)

The Paid Parental Leave scheme is administered by Services Australia (Centrelink). From July 2025, eligible parents can receive up to 22 weeks of government-funded leave paid at the national minimum wage.

Eligibility requirements:

• Worked at least 10 of the 13 months before the birth/adoption
• Worked at least 330 hours in that 10-month period (no more than an 8-week gap)
• Individual income under $175,000 in the previous financial year
• The child was born or came into your care on or after the relevant date

PPL is paid at the national minimum wage rate (currently around $915/week before tax). It is taxable income.

Both parents can share the 22 weeks between them, with each parent accessing their own portion.

Unpaid Parental Leave Under the Fair Work Act

Separate from the government scheme, eligible employees are entitled to up to 12 months of unpaid parental leave, with the right to request a further 12 months (total up to 24 months).

Eligibility: You must have worked for the same employer for at least 12 months before the expected birth or adoption date.

Casual employees are eligible if they have been employed regularly and systematically for at least 12 months.

Employer-Funded Paid Parental Leave

Many enterprise agreements and contracts provide employer-paid parental leave on top of the government scheme — often 6 to 26 weeks at your full salary. Check your contract, enterprise agreement, or Modern Award.

Key Rights During Parental Leave

• Your position must be kept open while on parental leave (or an equivalent position if that's not reasonably practicable)
• You cannot be dismissed because you are on parental leave or have applied for it
• Your continuity of service is maintained during unpaid parental leave
• Superannuation contributions depend on your employer's policy and any applicable award/agreement

Return to Work

You must give your employer at least 4 weeks' notice before returning to work. You have the right to return to your pre-leave position. If your role has been made redundant, you're entitled to the same redundancy rights as other employees.

Keep-in-Touch Days

During parental leave, you can work up to 10 'keeping in touch' days for your employer without ending your parental leave or affecting your PPL entitlement.