Family Leave

A range of family leave options enable both men and women to take time off work to care for their children and/or other family members.

Maternity/Adoption Leave

The University has generous maternity leave provisions and a range of ‘return to work’ options that assist women in the transition back to work and balance the responsibilities of young children.

Maternity leave consists of paid leave and unpaid leave. After one year continuous service, female staff members are entitled to 26 weeks paid maternity leave with the option to take up to 104 weeks of leave in total. Up to two years unpaid maternity leave may be granted to women.

Return-to-work Bonus

Within the 26 weeks paid leave is a 12 week component that is deemed a ‘bonus’. Staff members have the option to use the 12 weeks to make up the 26 weeks of paid leave, or use the bonus weeks as return to work options.

The return to work options includes:

For Academic Staff

• access to Conference Leave (relevant to profession)
• the opportunity to convert to part-time while being paid full-time (eg. work three days, have two days off courtesy of maternity/adoption leave, therefore extending the paid maternity/adoption leave period)
• access to leave to attend seminars relevant to discipline
• the opportunity to employ a casual staff member for teaching supporting
• the opportunity to employ a research assistant.

For Professional Staff

• access to conference leave to attend conferences relevant to employment
• the opportunity to convert their employment to part time while being paid full-time, therefore extending the paid maternity leave period
• access to time off for study leave
• access to leave to attend job related training courses.

Adoption leave applies the same principles as maternity leave providing the child is under five years of age and the staff member is the primary caregiver. The same principles as maternity apply to adoption leave.

Partner Leave

Partner leave is available to staff members who intend to support their partners during the time of birth or adoption of a child. Partner leave is only available concurrently with maternity/adoption leave and entitles the relevant staff member up to one week paid leave and one week unpaid leave. A further 50 weeks unpaid leave may be taken provided it is certified that they are the primary caregivers and the unpaid leave will be reduced by any period of paid maternity/adoption leave. Partner leave cannot be taken concurrently with any maternity/adoption leave.

Reduced Hours for Care of a Family Member

A staff member may apply to reduce their hours for the care of a family member for up to two years where they can demonstrate that they are the primary caregiver and the family member temporarily requires extensive personal care. Hours will not normally be reduced to less than 0.5 full-time equivalent (FTE).

Reduced Hours for the Care of Children Guidelines

Staff members who normally work at least 0.5 FTE may apply to reduce their hours of work for the purpose of caring for one or more children who are less than 19 years. The maximum period for this type of arrangement is 10 years.