In Australia, the Australian Government pays eligible parents through the Paid Parental Leave (PPL) scheme, providing up to 24 weeks (from July 2025) at the national minimum wage, managed by Services Australia. Employers often pay this benefit to employees directly and get reimbursed by the government, though some self-employed or specific workers claim directly from Services Australia. Some employers also offer their own separate paid maternity leave on top of the government scheme.
How much statutory maternity pay you'll get. Your statutory maternity pay lasts up to 39 weeks, made up of: 6 weeks getting 90% of your average weekly pay (before tax)
FMLA allows up to 12 weeks' unpaid leave if you've been with your employer for a year. Disability insurance is vital for paid leave during and after pregnancy. Welcoming a new addition to the family is exciting, and having the time to get to know them and recover is essential.
The right to maternity leave includes an entitlement for working mothers to paid leave or social security benefits during a reasonable period before and after childbirth.
In Australia, the costs of pregnancy care in a public hospital or birth centre are mostly covered by Medicare. This covers Australian citizens and some visitors to Australia. In the private system, you will need to pay for your care or take out private health insurance.
If you are entitled to Parental Leave Pay, your employer will provide the payment to you if you: have worked for the employer for at least 12 months.
Australia's Baby Bonus started in July 2004 as a $3,000 payment, but it increased to the $5,000 level on July 1, 2008, following earlier increases from $3,000 in 2004 to $4,000 in 2006 and then $5,000 in 2008. The payment, introduced by Treasurer Peter Costello, was a universal lump sum for new parents to help with costs and boost fertility.
Centrelink's Parental Leave Pay (PLP) is paid at the National Minimum Wage, which is $948.10 per week before tax for babies born or adopted from July 1, 2025, for up to 24 weeks (120 days) to share as a family, increasing to 26 weeks from July 1, 2026. This payment is for the carer of a new child, and the amount is the same for everyone, regardless of prior earnings, but is subject to tax.
An employee's employment rights (like the right to pay, holidays and returning to a job) are protected during maternity leave. You still have to pay SMP even if you stop trading.
Female workers availing of the maternity leave period and benefits must receive their full pay.
Paid maternity leave (or paternity leave) refers to the time off with pay that some companies grant employees welcoming a new baby or adopted child. Workers often receive only a percentage of their full-time pay, typically 60% to 80%, with limits based on the statewide average pay.
The government will usually make parental leave payments to your employer. Your employer will then pay you.
Maternity Benefit Act, 1961
Amendments in 2017 increased paid leave to 26 weeks for women expecting their first or second child, while women with two or more surviving children receive 12 weeks of paid leave. The law also guarantees job protection and benefits during the leave period.
How you're paid. Maternity Allowance is paid every 2 or 4 weeks. All benefits, pensions and allowances are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account.
Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement
To be eligible for a newborn payment of up to $667 (for each child) which is not taxable you must: have a baby or adopt a child; be eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part A.
When can birth defects happen? Most birth defects happen in the first trimester of pregnancy, which ends at 13 weeks and 6 days since a person's LMP (last menstrual period). This is because the major structures of the body (including the heart, arms, legs, lips, and palate) form in the first trimester.
Although FMLA secures your job while you're on a covered leave, it does not require employers to pay you while on leave. However, employers may provide a company paid maternity or parental leave while out of work if they choose. Some states have taken steps to provide paid leave benefits.
No, you generally don't get 6 months of full pay on maternity leave in Australia; instead, the government offers Paid Parental Leave (PPL) at the National Minimum Wage for a set number of weeks (up to 24 weeks in 2025-2026, increasing to 26 weeks in 2026-2027). Many employers "top up" this payment to your full wage, or offer their own paid leave, but this depends on your contract or workplace policy, not a universal right to 6 months full pay.
You do not have to repay any Statutory Maternity Pay or Maternity Allowance and you should continue to receive it from your employer/JobCentre Plus for the full 39 weeks even if you resign before the end of the maternity pay period. What happens if we have booked shared parental leave and one of us resigns?
Australian Government Parental Leave Pay
This is paid in line with the National Minimum Wage. If the child is born or adopted between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, employees can get up to 22 weeks to share as a family. Services Australia is the government organisation that manages Parental Leave Pay.
we add your insurable weekly earnings from your best weeks based on information provided by you and your record of employment. we divide that amount by the number of best weeks based on where you live. we then multiply the result by 55% for maternity and standard parental benefits or by 33% for extended parental ...
Unless specified by your employer, you can continue working right up until your due date if you wanted to. However it's usual to take your leave a week or two before your due date, to avoid the stress of going into labour at work and ensure the safe, planned arrival of your baby.
The Baby Bonus Scheme initially granted $2,500 in tax cuts per year for parents of newborns, an amount which was amended to lump-sum payments of $3,000 from 1 July 2004 and progressively rising to its current amount of $5,000 (now paid in 13 instalments).
Eligible children born from 2025 to 2028 may receive a $1,000 pilot deposit from the U.S. Treasury, and all eligible children may receive deposits from employers or major philanthropic contributors.
If you can't get Parental Leave Pay, you may be eligible for Family Tax Benefit and get newborn payments as part of it. Find out about the Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement on the Services Australia website.