New Government Maternity leave sheme- what does it mean for teachers

[AliBaby]

Does anyone know what teachers will be entitled to if the new 18week paid maternity leave scheme goes ahead?

In NSW we already get 14weeks paid so would we still get this plus the 18weeks from the government?

It probably wont go ahead but it would be nice to know what these changes actually mean.

[~Kim~]

Ali from what I read in another articale posted on here, yes everyone is entitled to it along with whatever they currently are entitled to. HOWEVER the catch was that it had to be taken within 6 months of the child being born.
I work for a govt dept too and we get the same. We are entitled to take our 14 weeks at half pay stretching it out to 28 weeks. I doubt any govt dept will let you take the govt offerings before theirs, so you will effectivley ony get 2 weeks of one or the other.

[mrsmac]

Teachers can do that too Kim so I doubt we will really gain much if the new rules come in. We are lucky in that we already have good mat leave, I have a friend who works for a local council who got NONE.

[DisGirl]

Our 26 weeks of paid maternity leave was negotiated in our Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. I daresay that if this proposal goes ahead, the unions will push for the additional 18 weeks leave on top of what we already get. From what I heard on the radio yesterday though, it'll be up to each organisation as to what they want to do, or what is negotiated, so you could end up with 'only' the 18 weeks.

[BLBG]

Wow, - I didn't realise that it 'will' be paid as well as the current agreement that your workplace has...

Fingers crossed.

When is it supposed to be going through? February?

[fionas]

From what I've read, it means everyone will now get 18 weeks paid maternity leave at minimum wage which is about $540 a week which is paid by the government (actually your employer pays you but then THEY claim it back from the government). That's on top of what your employer currently offers. The employer also has to pay your super for those 18 weeks.

SO the way I see it is this ... it probably means that if your employer currently offers paid maternity leave it will probably be back on the table at the next EBA. They'll argue that their employees are getting an extra $500 a week from the government and they've been slugged with paying super too.

Personally, I don't think we should be able to double dip. It means I'll be getting 13 weeks paid maternity leave PLUS 18 weeks paid by the government.

Though I could have that all wrong and maybe the government only tops up the difference between what your employer pays and the 18 week time. Which would mean my employer stops paying at 13 weeks and then the government payment kicks in for another 5 weeks. But that's really now what it sounded like to me.

OK, I think I've spread enough confusion for one day!

[mrsmac]

Our 26 weeks of paid maternity leave was negotiated in our Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. I daresay that if this proposal goes ahead, the unions will push for the additional 18 weeks leave on top of what we already get. From what I heard on the radio yesterday though, it'll be up to each organisation as to what they want to do, or what is negotiated, so you could end up with 'only' the 18 weeks.

Wow where do you teach to get 26 weeks paid leave??? I want that job LOL

[BLBG]

So when is it going to happen? (crosses fingers)
My mat leave will be starting late Jan, - will I get this if it comes in in Feb?