Parental Leave: Who Qualifies and What You Get
Learn how to access up to 26 weeks of unpaid leave per child to care for your child up to age 12.
Parental Leave is a scheme designed to give employees time away from their professional responsibilities to focus on the care and upbringing of their children.
Who it's for
To qualify for this scheme, you must be an employee. There is a specific requirement regarding your tenure: you must have completed at least one year of continuous service with your current employer. This means you must have been working for the same organization without a break in service for at least twelve months to become eligible for these leave entitlements.
What you get
The scheme provides a significant amount of time for childcare needs. You are entitled to 26 weeks of leave for each child. This entitlement is not a one-time event; you can access these weeks to care for your child at various stages of their development, provided the leave is taken before the child reaches 12 years of age.
What it costs you
While this scheme provides job protection and time away from work, it is not a paid benefit. The primary cost to you is the loss of salary for the entire duration of your leave. Because you are not receiving your regular wages while you are away, you will need to plan your household finances to account for this reduction in income.
The catch to know
The most important thing to remember is that this is unpaid parental leave. Unlike some other social welfare supports, the government does not provide a direct payment for this time. Because of this, it is highly recommended that you check your specific employment contract or speak with your HR department to see if your employer offers a private top-up scheme to supplement your lost earnings.
How to apply
- Verify that you have completed at least one year of continuous service with your employer.
- Confirm the age of your child to ensure they are under 12 years old.
- Discuss your planned leave dates with your employer to align with company policies.
- Check your employment contract for any specific rules regarding how much notice you must give before starting your leave.