Family Leave By CHAS CINI
Unpaid Family Leave is provided for in the National Employment Standards. The modern Awards do not cover this type of leave. A brief summary of the unpaid leave is as follows:-
“All employees in Australia are eligible for unpaid parental leave if they have completed at least 12 months of continued service with their employer.
This includes casual employees but only if :
(a) They have been employed by the employer on a regular and systematic basis for a sequence of periods over at least 12 months;
(b) Had not it been for the birth (or expected birth) or adoption (or expected adoption) of a child, they would have a reasonable expectation of continuing employment by the employer on a regular and systematic basis.”
There are also paid family leave benefits paid by Centrelink. The Paid Parental Leave scheme is paid for by Centrelink on the basis that the employer pays the employee. On completion of the Centrelink form by the employer, Centrelink will forward payment to the employer who must then pay the employee through its payroll system.
For further information about the Paid Parental Leave Scheme which will have some changes on 1st January 2017 you should visit www.centrelink.gov.au.