PAID PARENTAL LEAVE SCHEME – IMPORTANT CHANGES

19 Sep PAID PARENTAL LEAVE SCHEME – IMPORTANT CHANGES

The Dad and Partner Pay Scheme Bill passed through Parliament at the end of June.  The new payment will be added to the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010.

Dad and Partner Pay will be available to eligible fathers and partners, including adopting parents and parents in same-sex couples, who are caring for a child born or adopted from 1 January 2013.

Fathers and partners caring for a newborn or newly adopted child born after 1 January 2013 may be eligible to receive up to two weeks of Dad and Partner Pay at the rate of the national minimum wage;  the same weekly rate as for the existing parental leave pay – currently $606.40 per week before tax.

Applications can be made from 1 October 2012.  The scheme will be paid by the Australian Government and administered by the Department of Human Services (Centrelink).  Employers will not be responsible for making payments under this part of the scheme.

If a TTIA Member has any queries with regard to this article, please contact the TTIA Office on (02) 9264 0011.