Maternity leave?
| Maternity leave is a form of parental leave available to expectant mothers. In Australia, eligible employees can access unpaid parental leave under the National Employment Standards (NES) and may also qualify for the government-funded Paid Parental Leave scheme. It is designed to protect a mother’s job while she gives birth and cares for her newborn. |
How many weeks of maternity leave do you get in Australia?
Under the National Employment Standards (NES), eligible employees can take up to 12 months of unpaid parental leave. They may request an additional 12 months, bringing the total to 24 months.
In addition, the Australian Government provides up to 26 weeks of Paid Parental Leave at the National Minimum Wage for eligible parents of children born or adopted from 1 July 2026, with the payment able to be shared between parents.
Can I start maternity leave early?
Yes. You can usually start your unpaid parental leave up to 6 weeks before your expected due date. If your doctor recommends starting leave earlier for medical reasons, you may be eligible to begin your leave sooner.
Taking sick leave before maternity leave starts.
If you develop a pregnancy-related illness, such as hyperemesis (severe morning sickness), before your parental leave begins, it doesn’t automatically mean you’ll begin maternity leave. Instead, you can take your standard paid personal (sick) leave first. Once that’s exhausted, you may be eligible for unpaid special maternity leave due to the pregnancy-related illness, which doesn’t reduce your unpaid parental leave entitlement.
How Hola Health can help
Pregnancy can bring unexpected illnesses like hyperemesis (severe morning sickness), pelvic pain, or extreme fatigue. If you need a medical or Dr certificate for a pregnancy-related absence before your official maternity leave begins, Hola Health’s online doctors or nurse practitioners can issue a medical certificate securely to your phone in minutes, if clinically appropriate.
Telehealth is not suitable for medical emergencies. If you experience severe abdominal pain, bleeding, or signs of a pregnancy emergency, call 000 or visit the nearest emergency department.
