Despite being a significant concern for Australian families, the issue of balancing work and care responsibilities (whether for children, elderly parents, other family/community members) has been a constant policy challenge for well over a decade. One element, but a crucial one, is the fact that only one third of Australian women can access paid maternity leave.

For its entire term of office the Howard Government refused to implement a national, federally funded paid maternity leave scheme for all Australian women.

Productivity Commission Paid Maternity, Paternity and Parental Leave Inquiry

The Rudd Government announced early in the Federal Election that if elected the Productivity Commission would be charged with the task of assessing the plethora of models for paid maternity, paternity and parental leave and their Inquiry began in 2008 with the release of an issues paper in April, followed by a public submissions process to which the AEU was a part. The AEU Submission to the Inquiry is here.

Most AEU teacher members have access to 14 weeks paid maternity leave; however our policy is to achieve 26 weeks paid maternity leave. Though most AEU members do access paid maternity leave, the actual numbers of women taking paid maternity leave at any given time are relatively low in terms of the proportion of the education workforce.

Educators represent highly skilled professionals. Because of the teachers' shortage, new teachers' high attrition rates and considerations of gender equity in leadership/management positions, the potential loss to the education profession if we do not maintain favourable paid parental leave and associated flexibilities, would be significant.

Before paid leave was the norm female teachers, upon pregnancy would often resign and leave the profession altogether, contributing to teacher supply concerns. But further when other women later returned,  their maternity was considered to be a 'break in service' which left many women of retirement age with the prospect of much reduced superannuation and baring a significant (and discriminatory) cost for their time having children.

Access to paid maternity leave still involves gender equity considerations particularly in terms of career progression where women educators are not as well represented in leadership positions as they could be and time out of the workforce due to caring responsibilities do play a part in restricting career.

By February 2009, the Commission will present recommendations to Government which will be adopted, rejected or amended in part.

New links

Join the ACTU campaign to include Paid Maternity Leave in the 2009 Budget

ACTU media releases – Paid Maternity Leave “14 weeks for all women - ACTU paid maternity scheme affordable and good for families”

“Employers can afford paid maternity leave”

ACTU Paid Maternity Leave Fact Sheet

2020 Summit – AEU submission on Social Inclusion (Paid Maternity Leave)

Along with paid maternity leave are a range of workplace flexibilities that can assist employees better balance work and care responsibilities. The AEU has been just as supportive of these important measures both by bargaining for more flexible entitlements and by supporting ACTU campaigns and test cases to extend rights to all working Australians, men and women. This section also includes:

ACTU Work and Family Test Case

Maternity Protection: It's for all of us

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) Inquiry into Paid Maternity Leave

Senate Inquiry into Paid Maternity leave

Pregnancy Guidelines - HREOC