Paid parental leave evaluation: Phase 1

From 1 January 2011, Australian families in which a mother was in the paid workforce before the birth or adoption of a baby may be eligible for a new Australian Government-funded Paid Parental Leave (PPL)1 scheme. The scheme provides eligible parents with up to 18 weeks of Parental Leave Pay (PLP), paid at the National Minimum Wage, following the birth of a child. The PPL scheme brings Australia into line with all other OECD countries, except the United States, in having a national scheme for paid leave available to mothers following childbirth. [Executive summary extract