Paid Parental Leave in Australia: weeks, pay and rules

How many weeks you can get

The number of weeks of Parental Leave Pay depends on when your child was born or adopted (based on a 5-day week):

• From 1 July 2023: 20 weeks (100 days)
• From 1 July 2024: 22 weeks (110 days)
• From 1 July 2025: 24 weeks (120 days)
• From 1 July 2026: 26 weeks (130 days)

How much it pays

Parental Leave Pay is based on the weekly national minimum wage. In the 2025 to 2026 financial year, it was $948.10 per 5-day week ($189.62 a day). The rate usually changes on 1 July, and the rate you receive depends on the financial year in which you take each day, not on when your child was born. The payment is taxable and is quoted before tax.

Superannuation

For children born or adopted from 1 July 2025, the Australian Taxation Office pays a Paid Parental Leave Superannuation Contribution into your super fund after the end of the financial year. You do not need to make a separate claim.

Who can get it

To get Parental Leave Pay, you generally must be caring for a newborn or recently adopted child, and meet the income test, the work test and the residency rules. For a newborn, you also need to have registered the birth, or applied to, with your state or territory birth registry. The work test generally means you have worked for at least 10 of the 13 months before the birth. Check the exact limits on the Services Australia website, because they can change.

• You cannot work on the days you receive the payment, except for allowable reasons.
• A birth mother who is eligible cannot share any of her days with another person.
• Newly arrived migrants may need to wait 2 years, although there are exemptions.

Using your days

Days you have not yet used stay in a balance. You must use them within 2 years of your child's birth or adoption. There are rules on how many days can be shared between parents and how many can be taken at the same time, so read the Services Australia guidance before you plan.

Leave from your employer

Government pay is separate from your right to take time off work. Eligible employees can usually take up to 12 months of unpaid parental leave under the National Employment Standards, and may be able to ask for more. Some employers also offer paid parental leave on top of the government payment. Check the Fair Work Ombudsman and your employment contract.