Parental leave
Employees can take parental leave when a child is born or adopted.
On this page:
- Overview
- Types of parental leave
- Who is eligible for parental leave
- Tools and resources
- Related information
Overview
Parental leave is unpaid leave that can be taken after an:
- employee gives birth
- employee's spouse or de facto partner gives birth
- employee adopts a child under 16 years of age.
Employees are entitled to up to 12 months of unpaid parental leave. They can also request up to an additional 12 months of unpaid leave.
Some people may know parental leave as 'maternity leave' or 'paternity leave'. These are examples of types of parental leave.
Parental leave includes different entitlements for both parents, such as partner leave and adoption leave.
Pre-adoption leave
Employees who are taking parental leave to care for an adopted child are also entitled to 2 days unpaid pre-adoption leave to attend relevant interviews or examinations.
This leave can't be used if an employer tells an employee to take another type of leave. For example, paid annual leave.
Types of parental leave
All employees in Australia are entitled to unpaid parental leave.
There are different types of unpaid parental leave available depending on whether the employee is pregnant or not.
Pregnant employees are entitled to:
- special parental leave
- compassionate leave
- a safe and no safe job leave.
Employees who aren't pregnant are entitled to:
- partner leave
- compassionate leave
- adoption leave.
Employee parents also have a right to return to their old job when their parental leave has finished.
Who is eligible for parental leave
Employees are able to take parental leave if they:
- have worked for their employer for at least 12 months:
- before the date or expected date of birth if the employee is pregnant
- before the date of the adoption, or
- when the leave starts (if the leave is taken after another person cares for the child or takes parental leave)
- have or will have responsibility for the care of a child.
Casual employees
Casual employees are eligible for unpaid parental leave if they have:
- been working for their employer on a regular and systematic basis for at least 12 months
- a reasonable expectation of continuing work with the employer on a regular and systematic basis, had it not been for the birth or adoption of a child.
Having another child
Employees who have taken parental leave don't have to work for another 12 months before they can take another period of parental leave with that same employer.
However, if they have started work with a new employer, they will need to work with that employer for at least 12 months before they can take parental leave.
There are different arrangements for employees when a transfer of business occurs. See Employee entitlements on a transfer of business for more information.
Source reference: Fair Work Act 2009 s.67 - 70, 76 and 85
Tools and resources
- Apply for parental leave
- Employer checklist for unpaid parental leave
- Employee checklist for unpaid parental leave
- Parental leave best practice guide
- Parental leave and related entitlements fact sheet