In December last year, Shirley wrote a piece on why Australia is lagging behind other countries when it comes to paid maternity leave. Imagine my surprise when I heard that the Australian Government had passed the Paid Parental Leave Scheme.
breastfeeding
What a wonderful result for the women and families in Australia!!
With rising child care costs and often the inability to find places for our children, it will hopefully mean we are able to spend more time at home with our babies without causing unneccessary financial stress.
As a public hospital nurse, we have long been fortunate enough to receive paid maternity leave of 14 weeks a our base rate pay and I know we all appreciate that our union worked hard for us to have this.
What I wonder now is what exactly our entitlement will be? I have read a few articles on this and none have given me a definite answer on exactly what I would be entitled. Is it that we get the 18 weeks minimum wage and then the 14 weeks from our place of employment?
Do we get our 14 weeks stretched out to the 18 weeks but only at the national minimum wage or is it all paid at our base rate nursing wage ? Do we get a similar deal to the non working mothers which continue to receive the means tested baby bonus and then our 14 weeks provided by the hospital?
Whilst I am happy to receive whatever I may be entitled to, it seems unclear and somewhat confusing. Am I the only one that feels this way? Will you decision to expand your family be reliant on this information?
Photo credit: RubyJi on Flickr
Ha ha Niknak30, that is an amazing result!!! I’m not sure it applies to all. We are currently entering a bargaining agreement with our provider and the union. I don;t think mat eave is on the agenda. I did ask them however. I won’t make my decision whether to have another beautiful baby or not. I saved for both my kids knowing I wouldn’t be paid for 12 months and so too I will save for my 3rd. No amount of money or lack of money will determine if I will have another or not. It will be whether I want another bundle of joy or not