Bek, I am not a teacher, but spent a lot of time working for the Dept of Education (DEET) in the NT.....but I am not sure if the policies are the same across all states? Theirs was flexible, just like the overall mat leave policies, ie that you have 52 weeks, and can finish up at any time, and return 52 weeks later......

That said, most of the teachers I came across who took leave took it from the end of term closest to about 35 weeks, if they could.....