first bit of advice i can give you is DON'T go to the office looking for help - they will tell you to call

if you're taking unpaid mat leave, you're eligible for newstart allowance before the baby is born and you can then transfer to parenting partnered when baby arrives. essentially what you will need to provide is:
- letter from your doctor with EDD - if you take mat leave from 34weeks, you will have no job search requirements - anything before that, you may be required to look for work unless you provide a med cert
- given your DH is self employed, you will need to provide the last financial years FULL income tax return to be assessed by a complex assessment officer. if your partner hasn't been running his business for a full financial year, you'll have to provide the ITR, as well as an estimated profit and loss for the coming three months. at the end of that three months, you'll have to provide ACTUAL profit and loss for the past three months, and estimate for next three. then actual for past six, estiamte for next three etc until business has been up and running long enough to have a full financial year ITR.
- if last fin years ITR isn't representative of current circs (much higer or lower income), you can do the P/L thing to make sure it's accurate
- if you are going to be on paid mat leave, Newstart won't come into it at all. you will have to apply for parenting partnered when your leave expires
- same deal for parenting payment where your partners income is required to be proven
- for the parenting payment, if your partner is under about $700 a fornight, you'll get full payment for you (around $400 ball park) - if he goes over that, it starts to taper down - if his income is under $1400 a fortnight you'll receive a part payment

- for FTB - if you qualify for parenting payment, you'll get maximum FTBA. you'll have to work out your fortnightly parenting payment entitlement, add it to your income and work out FTBB - you will likely NOT get any FTBB this year, but may qulaify next financial year.



for more help, please RING FAO on 136150 - when you have a phone consultant, you have them for as long as you need them - they can discuss it all with you (self employment, residence stuff - the whole lot) - if you go into the office, they don't have the staff to devote to helping you and you will either get minimal help, referral to the website, or told to call anyway!