Parental leave increased
Volume 11, No. 44, June 01, 2006

Family man: Maj Stephen Jobson, OC B Sqn 5 Avn Regt, is greeted by his wife Tania and children Amy, Alex and Holly on his return from Operation Pakistan Assist. Photo by Cpl Rachel Ingram

SOLDIERS will benefit from an increase in paid parental leave – from one week to two weeks – that took effect on May 14.

Parental leave is available to members who become parents and are not entitled to paid maternity leave. This includes members who adopt a child.

The extra week of leave will reduce the need for members to use other types of leave following the adoption or birth of a child.

Members can now take parental leave in one of two ways.

The first option is to take one unbroken period of up to two weeks, or 14 calendar days, and the second is two separate periods, each of up to one week, or seven calendar days.

Members who became a parent of a newborn or adopted child since February 6, 2005, will be able to access some or all of the increased leave.

For more information visit the ADF Pay and Conditions web site at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/pac/ or www.defence.gov.au/dpe/pac/ To view the new policy, click Pacman V2 then Chapter 5 and Part 5.