11. General - Paid Maternity Leave and Paid Adoption Leave
11.1 An employee who applied for and was granted maternity leave or adoption leave
commencing on or after 1 September 2005 will, in respect of the whole or part of
leave occurring on or after the date of such operation, be entitled to the benefits
provided by this clause as if this clause was in force at the time of having
commenced to take such leave.
11.2 Subject to this clause, an employee, other than a casual employee, who has
completed 12 months continuous service immediately prior to the birth of the
child, is entitled to twelve (12) weeks paid maternity leave.
11.3 Subject to this clause, an employee, other than a casual employee, who has
completed 12 months of continuous service before taking custody of an adopted
child is entitled to twelve (12) weeks paid adoption leave.
11.4 The following conditions apply to an employee applying for paid maternity leave
or paid adoption leave:
11.4.1 The total of paid and unpaid leave is not to exceed 52 calendar weeks in
relation to the employee?s child. For the purposes of this clause, child
includes children of a multiple birth/adoption;
11.4.2 An employee will be entitled to twelve (12) weeks paid maternity, or
paid adoption leave at full pay or 24 weeks at half pay, or any
combination of full or half pay.
11.4.3 This leave will be paid at the employee?s ordinary rate of pay (excluding
allowances, penalties or other additional payments) from the date
maternity/adoption leave commences. The paid maternity/adoption
leave is not to be extended by public holidays, rostered days off,
programmed days off or any other leave falling within the period of paid
leave.
11.5 Part-time employees will have the same entitlements as full time employees on a
pro-rata basis according to the average number of contracted hours during the
immediately preceding 12 months (disregarding any periods of leave).
11.6 During periods of paid or unpaid maternity leave, sick leave with pay will not be
granted for a normal period of absence for confinement. However, any illness
arising from the incidence of the pregnancy may be covered by sick leave to the
extent available, subject to the usual provisions relating to production of a
medical certificate and the medical certificate indicates that the illness has arisen
from the pregnancy.
11.7 For the purposes of this clause, ?12 months continuous service? will be taken to
include service where the employee has been employed for each of the terms or
semesters (as applicable) during the 12 month period immediately preceding the
birth of the child or taking custody of an adopted child.
