Maternity leave refers to the period of time a mother takes off work before and after the birth (or adoption) of her child. In Australia, maternity leave is protected under the Fair Work Act 2009, which provides eligible employees with unpaid parental leave, and access to government-funded paid parental leave (PPL) through Services Australia.
Maternity leave plays a crucial role in supporting working mothers as they recover from childbirth, bond with their newborn, and adjust to parenthood without jeopardising their employment.
Services Australia – Parental Leave Pay
In Australia, maternity leave typically includes the following entitlements:
To qualify, the employee must:
Paid Parental Leave is intended to support mothers financially while they’re on unpaid leave, allowing them to stay home longer without the pressure to return to work prematurely.
To access the government’s paid parental leave, the employee must:
Employers have specific responsibilities under the Fair Work Act:
Casual workers are not automatically entitled to unpaid parental leave unless:
However, they may still qualify for government-funded Paid Parental Leave if they meet the work test and income test.
While not a legal requirement, some employers offer paid maternity leave in addition to government entitlements. This may include:
These terms are usually outlined in the employment contract, enterprise agreement, or company leave policy.
Employees planning to take maternity leave must:
Employers should:
Learn how Microkeeper’s Leave Management Tools support maternity and parental leave tracking.
Employees have the legal right to:
Employers must respond to flexible work requests in writing within 21 days and can only refuse on reasonable business grounds.
You can return to work on a Keeping in Touch (KIT) basis for up to 10 days without affecting your payments.
Yes, under recent changes, employees can take parental leave in blocks (in some cases) and combine it with flexible paid parental leave.
Only paid leave accrues annual and personal leave. Unpaid parental leave does not, unless your employer provides otherwise.
Microkeeper simplifies maternity leave administration with:
Maternity leave is a vital entitlement for working families, offering time to care for a newborn while maintaining job security. Understanding your obligations as an employer—and your entitlements as an employee—is key to creating a supportive workplace culture.
With Microkeeper’s all-in-one HR, payroll, and leave management tools, Australian businesses can confidently support maternity leave while staying compliant with Fair Work and Services Australia requirements.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Please consult the Fair Work Ombudsman or Services Australia for detailed guidance.