In order to apply for parental leave, the employee must give written notice to their employer. This notice must:
- be provided to the employer at least 10 weeks before they start the leave, or if this is not praticable, as soon as is practicable; and
- tell the employer the start and end dates of their parental leave.
The employee must also confirm their leave dates with their employer at least four weeks before they go on parental leave unless it is not practicable to do so. If an employee needs to make any changes to their leave dates, they should inform their employer as soon as possible.
Employers have the right to request that their employees provide evidence, such as a medical certificate or statutory declaration, of the expected date of birth or date of placement of adoption.
Employees can use the notification form to advise their employer that they intend to take leave and also to confirm their leave dates.
Example
Kate has been working for High Street Bakery Pty Ltd for 2 years on a part-time basis as a manager. She is expecting a baby and takes steps to notify her employer, Mary, of her intention to take maternity leave.
Kate writes a letter to Mary, stating that she would like to take 6 months maternity leave to care for the baby. In the letter she states the date she intends to start her leave and the date of her expected return.
Kate also provides Mary a letter from her doctor verifying that she is pregnant and the expected arrival date of the baby.