Your guide to Parental Leave in Australia in 2025

Being Pregnant – 18 Jun 25 By Fiona Wright

Parental leave: What you’re entitled to, what’s changing, and how to make the most of your time off.

Whether you’re pregnant, adopting, or supporting a partner, it’s worth getting across the latest parental leave entitlements early – so you can plan for precious time at home without the last-minute stress.

And with some big updates rolling out from July 1, there’s never been a better time to understand what support is available for new mums, dads and carers.

Parental leave 2025: What’s new?

From 1 July 2025, the number of paid parental leave days increases from 110 to 120, that’s an extra two weeks at home with your little one.

This change applies to babies born or adopted on or after July 1. If your child arrives earlier, you’ll still be eligible for the current 110-day payment.

Here’s a quick rundown:

120 paid days (about 24 weeks) from 1 July 2025
Claimable up to 3 months before your due date or adoption
Another increase to 130 days (26 weeks) is planned for 1 July 2026
Payments are $183.16 per day before tax, based on the national minimum wage
Parents must not be working on the days they receive the payment

Importantly, this leave is flexible – you can take it all at once or spread it across the first two years of your child’s life.

From 1 July 2025, the number of paid parental leave days increases from 110 to 120. *(Image: Getty)*

Who can get parental leave?

Parental leave in Australia comes in two parts: unpaid leave (your legal entitlement as an employee), and paid leave (government-funded). Here’s who’s eligible:

You can access parental leave if:

You’ve worked for your employer for 12 months or more
You’re a full-time, part-time or regular casual employee
You’re giving birth, adopting a child under 16, or your partner is

Casual employees need to have worked regularly and systematically for at least a year, and have a reasonable expectation of continuing work if not for the baby.

How much time can you take?

Most eligible parents are entitled to:

52 weeks unpaid leave (and you can ask for another 52 weeks if needed)
Up to 120 days paid parental leave from the government (from 1 July 2025)
8 weeks of unpaid partner leave (taken at the same time or separately)

If you’re adopting, you also get 2 days unpaid pre-adoption leave to attend interviews and appointments.

You can start parental leave:

Up to 6 weeks before your due date if you’re pregnant
From the day your baby is born or adopted
As a partner, from the day the baby arrives

Do I get paid from my employer too?

Some employers offer extra paid parental leave on top of what the government provides, or top up your payment to match your normal salary.

This isn’t a legal requirement, so it’s worth checking your employment contract or HR policy to see what you’re entitled to.

Asian Chinese Mother bonding time with her baby boy toddler at home — Most eligible parents are entitled to 52 weeks unpaid. *(Image: Getty)*

How do I apply for paid parental leave?

You can apply for Parental Leave Pay through Services Australia (Centrelink), and you’ll need to:

Link Centrelink to your myGov account
Lodge your claim up to 3 months before your due date or adoption
Provide proof of birth or adoption once your child arrives
Coordinate with your employer if they’ll be passing on the payments

Don’t forget…

You’re entitled to return to your old job after parental leave
You can use keeping in touch days (up to 10) while still receiving payments
From July 2025, superannuation will start being paid on PPL, a big win for women’s financial security
Only one paid leave entitlement per child applies, even for twins or triplets
If both parents are eligible, you can share the leave, although only 8 weeks can be taken at the same time

Plan early, stress less

Preparing for life with a new baby comes with its fair share of sleepless nights and snack runs, so knowing your leave entitlements can take one thing off your plate.

With the extra paid leave coming into effect in July, and more increases on the horizon, 2025 is shaping up to be a supportive year for Aussie families.

Need more info?