Teachers-when to take leave???

[caity83]

Hi girls! I am in a similar situation. I am a secondary school teacher in Victoria and bubs is due on February 28th. Here is the info I have for all other Victorian teachers:

A school teacher who is pregnant begins paid leave six weeks prior to the expected date of birth until six week after the actual date of confinement.

If the twelve week period includes any holiday period, the holidays are on paid maternity leave (i.e. you can't double-dip). We know from the calls we receive that quite a bit of planning goes in to the timing of these events!!!

So I have to start my maternity leave on the 19th of December (which is the last day of term 4 in Vic) which is a bit annoying - DEET HRM say that

An employee is permitted to attend for duty during any part of the required absence period if the principal is satisfied that:

**She will be fit for duty for the relevant period (proof of which is to be by medical certificate supplied by the employee), and
**The attendance sought by the employee is at a time employees ordinarily attend for duty at that school.

Where an employee is permitted to attend for duty during part of the required absence period before the birth of the child any paid maternity leave commences from the first day of absence from duty

So not sure if this means I can try and work the 1st day of term 1 and then get paid maternity leave from there if I have a letter from my care provider saying that I am capable to teach up until the 28th Jan which is exactly 4 weeks before bubs is due - I haven't really been much help at all!!