TAKING LEAVE
TAKING LEAVE Costs, Timing and Tax The information on this page is a guide to advice found on publically available websites. It is not professional
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The government also offer payments to the ‘primary carer’ (most often mum), if they are taking time off work, and these payments can be received in addition to the payments from employers.
Mums who are NOT taking leave from their job to have a baby are also eligible for payments.
For dads, it’s a little different, and it’s worth knowing why.
The Paid Parental Leave scheme changed from 1 July 2023. If your baby’s birth or entry into care is on or after this date, below is how this will affect you.
As of 1 July 2023, Parental Leave Pay and Dad and Partner Pay are combining into one payment. It will increase from 90 days (18 weeks) to 100 days (20 weeks). The total Parental Leave Pay available to families will then increase by 2 weeks each July. This is until 2026 when it will be 130 days (26 weeks).
A combined family income limit will also be introduced. A family’s combined adjusted taxable income must be $350,000 or less per financial year. The existing individual income limit of $156,647 will not change.
If you do not meet the individual income limit, then the combined family income limit will be applied instead. This will happen even if you’re partnered or a single parent.
All parents can use Parental Leave Pay until a child turns 2. Parents can share their Parental Leave Pay with each other and they can even take days at the same time. This can be at the same time as paid leave, and between periods of paid work. This will give families more flexibility to manage their work and care arrangements.
Part of Parental Leave Pay will be reserved for each parent to use. Any unused portions of Parental Leave Pay days will be lost if not used before a child turns 2. This is to encourage both parents to access the payment. Single parents will be able to get the full amount of Parental Leave Pay.
To keep up to date with the new changes visit Services Australia.
As your baby learns to engage with the world around them there is an opportunity for you to connect and develop a close bond with them that lasts a lifetime. Read more
You also get the chance to bond more with your partner.. Many couples say having both parents at home in the early months has helped them find their feet more easily as two pairs of hands and two minds on the task are far easier than working it out solo! Read More
Dads that have spent a lot of time with their newborn tell us that when they go back to work they are more engaged and efficient at work and more empathetic and understanding with their teams. Why? The basic tasks and unexpected stresses of caring for a newborn (along with joyful moments with your new family), yield new skills and are character building. Think of ‘time with a newborn’ as training for all areas of life
The government also offer payments to the ‘primary carer’ (most often mum), if they are taking time off work, and these payments can be received in addition to the payments from employers.
Mums who are NOT taking leave from their job to have a baby are also eligible for payments.
For dads, it’s a little different, and it’s worth knowing why.
In today’s working world it is much more common for dads to take more than a few days or weeks leave when their children are born.
As well as Government-funded ‘Dad or Partner Pay’ other factors to consider include advice from an obstetrician/doctor (i.e. your partner may require medical support and can’t care for your baby by herself), your financial position, paid leave available from your employer (parental leave, annual leave, long service leave), and or planned child care arrangements.
The overall point to keep in mind is how would you and your partner like to utilise the leave available to you in a way that best supports your child, your relationship and your working life?
It might be useful to consider how your leave will impact your employer, your manager and team, but also your family so that you come to a win-win outcome for everyone involved.
The article “Preparing to take leave” was prepared for SMS4dads by Parents at Work
TAKING LEAVE Costs, Timing and Tax The information on this page is a guide to advice found on publically available websites. It is not professional
CHILDCARE What to expect Finding quality and affordable child care remains one of the key barriers for parents’ return to work plans. It’s important to
RETURNING TO WORK Why ‘Keeping in Touch’ is helpful If you are taking extended leave when your baby is born, before starting it is important
PLANNING YOUR LEAVE What’s in it for dads? Here are two dads who took extended parental leave when their children were born and the difference
Richard’s research revealed possible long-term negative impacts on the children of dads with mental health issues. Fathers’ depressive symptoms in the first year after the birth predicted behaviour problems in their children years later.
“If dads’ mental health has such a dramatic impact then we need to be screening dads for depression, not just mums,” Richard explains.
In response to these limitations, Richard and his team have designed a smart-phone based program that allows mobile connection for new and expectant dads.
Participants receive texts containing information and links, and self-report their mood. If the mood tracker identifies dads as needing extra support, they will be offered a phone call from a counsellor trained in this area.
Following the success of the pilot of the SMS4dads program, Funding was received to enable a National roll-out.
“When dad’s miss antenatal classes or activities, they also miss out on contact and links to other people. They may never get the chance to say to anyone, look I’m really stressed,” he points out.
“SMS4dads is a way of bringing dads into the health system and keeping them linked in with services and support,” explains Richard.
Richard credits a varied career, a talented and innovative team, and much life experience for affording him the insight needed to address the challenges related to actively engaging dads.
After completing his masters in Medical Science, studying epidemiology, Richard earned his PhD focusing on fathers and attachment.
“Fathers are invisible in many places, and that is endemic. Not because people dislike fathers, but because the system is set up to be focused on mothers.”
Some services and organisations are aware of the need to engage dads, but have been unsuccessful in their attempts.
“When people are challenged about this, they generally want dads involved,” Richard affirms.
“Often, however, they just don’t know how to do it.”
Richard works with health professionals on issues related to fathers, and has delivered many antenatal programs for expectant dads.
He credits his own family with giving him an understanding of the role of fathers needed to make his work relevant.
“I have three daughters and two stepdaughters,”
“My kids would say they taught me just about everything I know and they’d be right. They’ve taught me a lot, and still do.”
Richard’s research revealed possible long-term negative impacts on the children of dads with mental health issues. Fathers’ depressive symptoms in the first year after the birth predicted behaviour problems in their children years later.
“If dads’ mental health has such a dramatic impact then we need to be screening dads for depression, not just mums,” Richard explains.
In response to these limitations, Richard and his team have designed a smart-phone based program that allows mobile connection for new and expectant dads.
Participants receive texts containing information and links, and self-report their mood. If the mood tracker identifies dads as needing extra support, they will be offered a phone call from a counsellor trained in this area.
Following the success of the pilot of the SMS4dads program, Funding was received to enable a National roll-out.
“When dad’s miss antenatal classes or activities, they also miss out on contact and links to other people. They may never get the chance to say to anyone, look I’m really stressed,” he points out.
“SMS4dads is a way of bringing dads into the health system and keeping them linked in with services and support,” explains Richard.