Paid Maternity and Parental Leave

We offer attractive maternity and parental leave options for employees who have completed 40 weeks of continuous service within NSW Health. This includes 14 weeks paid maternity leave which can be taken at full pay over 14 weeks or half pay over 28 weeks. One week paid parental leave with up to 51 weeks of unpaid parental leave is also available to the other parent.

Other Provisions

Other leave now available (pending eligibility) includes leave in the event of a miscarriage and pre-term birth.

Commonwealth Paid Parental Leave and Dad and Partner Pay

Commonwealth Paid Parental Leave (CPPL) provides eligible parents with payments at the rate of the National Minimum Wage for a maximum of 18 weeks or 90 days.

From 1 July 2020, these provisions changed to enable more flexibility in parental leave pay (PLP). Under the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Flexibility Measures) Act 2020, eligible persons are entitled to an initial 12 weeks' Parental Leave Pay (PLP) period. The eligible persons are then entitled to a second "flexible" PLP period of up to 30 business days.

The initial continuous 12 weeks' PLP can be taken within the first 12 months after the birth or adoption of the child. However, the flexible 30 business days can be claimed on any flexible PLP day within the 24-month period after the birth or adoption of a child (i.e. before the child's second birthday), including in a six-week block immediately after the initial 12-week period. The eligible person's total period of 18 weeks' PLP remains the same, and the rate of pay under the national minimum wage remains unchanged.

Dad and Partner Pay (DPP) is for eligible working dads or partners (including adoptive parents) and they may get up to two weeks’ pay at the rate of the National Minimum Wage.

Information on Commonwealth Paid Parental Leave (CPPL) and Dad and Partner Pay is available at Australian Government Services - Parental Leave Pay.