Would-be parents urged to plan their leave



By Tamara Johns

Would-be parents hoping to cash in on next year’s paid parental leave scheme have been urged to start planning right now.

According to the Federal Government, decisions made by prospective parents now could affect their eligibility for Paid Parental Leave under the scheme’s ‘work test’.

To pass the work test, parents are required to have been in paid work at least 10 out of 13 months prior to birth or the adoption of a child and completed 330 hours of work in the past 10-month period and no more than eight weeks unpaid break.

Those eligible for paid leave include: the mother of a newborn or adopted child, who is an Australian resident and has met the paid parental leave work test before the adoption or birth of a child.

The Parental Leave Scheme legislation was passed last month, providing primary carers with the equivalent of the national minimum weekly wage of $570 before tax.

Payments to parents will start from January 2011 and can be accessed either through the Family Assistance Office or employer organisations.

The government-funded plan is designed to allow working parents to spend more time at home with their new baby and help employers retain staff.

For more information, visit or call:

Family Assist: www.familyassist.gov.au
Baby Bonus: http://www.familyassist.gov.au/payments/family-assistance-payments/baby-bonus.html
Family Tax Benefit Part A & Part B: http://www.familyassist.gov.au/payments/family-assistance-payments/family-tax-benefit-part-a.html
National Employment Standards (NES) as part of Fair Work Act: www.fairwork.gov.au

Parents and prospective parents: Call 13 61 50
Employers: Call 13 11 58

CareerOne.com.au, July 6, 2010