Annual + Maternity Leave

Ok Ladies - this is the answer (which I've changed a bit since yesterday as had another chat with DOL!):

There are 2 types of parental leave (both unpaid):

Maternity Leave - 14 weeks which must start at the latest the day the baby is born, but can start up to 6 weeks before bubs due date.

Extended Leave - maximum 52 weeks which can start/end any time in your baby's first year of life.

PPL is quite separate and can be paid out either during your Maternity Leave or Extended Leave.

You cannot take annual leave and Maternity Leave at the same time, but you can take annual leave and Extended Leave at the same time.

So, what I will do is forgo maternity leave and take just extended leave from bubs birthdate to his first birthday = 1 year. I can use up any of my annual leave still owing during this time, and then once my annual leave has run out I can get my 14 weeks PPL. So long as I'm not receiving annual leave payments and PPL payments at the same time, it's sweet.

I'd definitely recommend you ring the DOL if you have any questions because they were so lovely and helpful and really knew what they were talking about. If you email them they also get back to you the next day if you'd rather do that.

Hope that helps!

Edited by amykt

This is all interesting, didn't realise it was so complicated, I too am currently sorting mine out. My plan is to take 4 weeks annual leave before due date and then 14 weeks PPL after that, with the rest of the year as extended leave.

That's what most people at my work seem to do.

To whoever asked about just getting your leave paid out - if you resign rather than taking leave then your work has to pay you out, but if you just take leave, then no, they won't pay it out.