Hi Karina,

Under most NSW awards you are entitled to 52 weeks unpaid maternity leave. The catch is that this leave cannot go past your child's first birthday. I guess the presumption is that pregnant women leave work about 4 weeks early.

In respect of your annual leave, i understand that you are required to take this leave first - however it should be cumulative in that it is NOT maternity leave.

Not sure if that helps, but stick to your guns and don't let them bully you!!