Teachers-when to take leave???

[Sim]

In NSW School holidays are counted as part of mat leave. Eg If mat leave commenced next week and bub wasn't due for 6 weeks. Mat leave is 6 weeks, not 4 weeks mat leave and 2 weeks of the Easter hols. This is why under the new award you may be better starting your mat leave close to EDD depending on where hols fall. I know first hand, this was my exact situation last year with my second bub. With my first I had to start mat leave during the Christmas hols and this counted in the mat leave entitlement NOT holidays first and then mat leave starting as term started. (my first was under the old award where you had to start mat leave at the 34 week mark). You do get the 4 weeks leave loading (or a percentage depending on amount worked), which is normally paid around November.

You will then realise that those 14 weeks pay are really only ever 12 weeks at best, and 10 weeks in most circumstances of actually being paid whilst not at school. Not that I'm complaining it's much better now than it was and is certainly better than some other occupations.