2011 Australian Baby Bonus News Site.

Hi All,

Thought some of you newbie's might find this information handy. Its about your rights (for mums and dads) in relation to maternity leave.

http://www.workandfamily.nsw.gov.au/...ity/index.html

In summary:

Maternity leave is unpaid leave taken by a female employee during or after pregnancy. In general, you can take up to 52 weeks of maternity leave. Special maternity leave is taken by a female employee to recover from a terminated pregnancy, when the child is still-born or when the mother is ill because of the pregnancy. Paid sick leave may be taken instead of special maternity leave.



Paternity leave is unpaid leave taken by a male employee in connection with the birth of his child or his spouse's (including de facto spouse's) child. Short paternity leave is for up to one week at the time of the birth of the child or other termination of the pregnancy. Extended/long paternity leave of up to 51 weeks after the birth is for a male employee who is to be the child's primary care giver. Leave referred to in this booklet as paternity leave will be called partner leave in the New South Wales Industrial Relations Act 1996 following the enactment of the Miscellaneous Acts Amendment (Same Sex Relationships) Act 2008. Partner leave may also apply to same sex partners in some circumstances. To find out more about paternity leave please contact the OIR on 131 628 or see the OIR's brochure Parental Leave.


Adoption leave is unpaid leave taken by either the adoptive mother or adoptive father when adopting a child who is under 18 years (Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW)) or who is under 5 years (Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Commonwealth)). Short adoption leave is an unbroken period of up to three weeks leave taken at the time of the child's placement. Extended/long adoption leave is a further unbroken period of up to 49 weeks leave to be the child's primary care giver. To find out more about adoption leave please see the OIR's brochure Parental Leave.