Australia’s Parental Leave scheme Isn’t Good Enough
New dads in Australia only get nine days of paid leave at average earnings. Our national scheme currently ranks 34th out of 38 OECD countries, leaving Australian families way behind.
41 weeks
31.6 weeks
8.3 weeks
1.8 weeks
Korea
Japan
OECD Avg
Australia
Parental leave should be:
1. Affordable
Leave should be paid at average earnings, not minimum wage.
2. Fair
Dads should be able to take the same amount of time off as mums, without their partner losing leave.
3. Equal
Australian parents should get as much time off as parents in comparable countries.
WHY WE NEED BETTER LEAVE
There has been a big cultural shift over the past 10 or 20 years. Dads are expected to play a bigger role as parents, and want to.
But 56% of new Australian dads say they had to go back to work too early after their child was born.
Either their work wouldn't give them longer, or they couldn't afford more time off.
There's clear evidence children thrive when both parents are actively involved.
Parental leave for dads also helps women re-engage with their careers. Research even shows men who take parental leave contribute more equally at home for the rest of their lives.
Better parental leave is good for kids, for both parents, and for the country.
Not sure what you’re entitled to?
Parental leave can be confusing. We are here to help you understand your entitlements and plan your time off in a way that works best for you and your family. Share a few details about your situation below, and someone who's been through it before will get back to you within 7 days.
Add your voice
What Australian dads say
“Times have changed. dads these days want to spend more time with our kids, and we're expected to. we need leave that lets us.”
Joe Cromer
“I had to go back to work two days after my son was born. i've added my name so that other dads can get a proper amount of time off.”
Roger Bignall
“when dads get time off too, everyone benefits. it's good for mums, good for kids, good for dads.”
Ravi Thanaka