Paid parental leave
The Paid Parental Leave scheme provides financial support to eligible parents to take time off work after a birth or adoption.
The Paid Parental Leave scheme was introduced on 1 January 2011. The scheme provides Parental Leave Pay at a rate based on the national minimum wage to support eligible working parents to take time off work to care for their child after a birth or adoption.
Find out about Parental Leave Pay eligibility requirements, the current rate of payment and how to apply on the Services Australia website.
For information on the Paid Parental Leave legislation, read the Paid Parental Leave Guide.
As part of the expansion of the scheme, the Government is completing a comprehensive 4 phase evaluation of the Paid Parental Leave scheme. The evaluation will look at the impact of the reforms and the scheme as a whole.
Learn more about the historical evaluation and review of the scheme.
Updates about Paid Parental Leave.