As of 1 January 2011, many employees will be able to claim paid parental leave. This long-awaited scheme is available to employees who become the primary care-giver of a child on the birth or adoption of that child. The scheme allows for 18 weeks pay at the federal minmum wage (currentl $569.90 per week). This is a government-funded scheme, but, as of July 1 2011, it will be your employer who actually makes the payments to you. There are a number of eligibility criteria, mostly relating to the length and regularity of your employment in the 13 months prior to the birth or adoption of the child.

 For more information, go to the Family Assistance Office website, www.familyassist.gov.au, or call them on 136 150. You may also wish to read our Parental Leave information sheet for more detail on how the scheme interacts with your other workplace rights regarding parental leave.