Parental Leave Pay is a government-funded initiative designed to support eligible parents taking time off work to care for a newborn or newly adopted child. The payment is available to individuals who meet specific eligibility criteria and can be shared between parents.
- Duration: A set number of days is available per family, with limits on how much each parent can access. Single parents may be entitled to the full amount.
- Flexibility: Parental leave can be taken on any day that you are on leave from work. It may be used alongside employer-provided paid or unpaid leave, and may be available after returning to work.
- Shared Leave: Parents may take a portion of the leave concurrently to spend time together as a family.
- Superannuation: Contributions are made based on how the leave is shared between parents.
- Claim Period: There are timeframes within which each parent must claim their entitlement.
- Custom Use: Leave can be taken in blocks, single days, or held for future use. Changes can be made at any time via your online account.
For further information, including eligibility and application details, visit servicesaustralia.gov.au/parentalleavepay.
If you’re an employer, read more about the Paid Parental Leave scheme for employers and how to help your employees.
