Estimate your total income across parental leave — 26 weeks of government PLP (from 1 July 2026), employer top-up, accrued annual leave, and the unpaid tail you are still legally entitled to. Employee and employer views.
Last verified: 21 May 2026Every eligible employee has a legal right to up to 12 months of unpaid parental leave — no employer permission required. Here's exactly how the statutory entitlement works under the Fair Work Act, how to take it, and how to request a further 12 months.
Paid Parental Leave 26 Weeks: Your Complete Guide from 1 July 2026From 1 July 2026, government-funded Paid Parental Leave expands to 26 weeks — up from 24 weeks. Here's who qualifies, the income test ($180,007), how to split between partners, 'use it or lose it' reserved days, and what employers need to do.
Returning to Work After Parental Leave: Your Complete RightsYour complete guide to returning to work after parental leave in Australia — your right to return to the same position, requesting flexible work on return, breastfeeding rights, discrimination protections, what to do if your role has changed, and part-time return options.
Embed this calculator on your site — free
One line of HTML. Auto-updates with the latest Australian rates. Click to copy the code.
Copy & paste into any HR blog, payroll docs, intranet, or CMS.
<iframe
src="https://fairworkmate.com.au/embed/parental-leave?partner=YOUR_NAME"
width="100%"
height="700"
frameborder="0"
loading="lazy"
title="Parental Leave Income Calculator by FairWork Mate"
style="border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:8px;max-width:680px;"
></iframe>YOUR_NAME with your site identifier for attribution (optional).“I'm using the Parental Leave Income Calculator on FairWork Mate. Walk me through what this typically tells me and what I should do next.”
Ask FairWork Mate AI →
Get notified when rates change
Free alerts when minimum wage, award rates, or workplace laws are updated.
Free forever. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Stuck on your numbers?
Ask our AI advisor — it'll talk you through your specific situation in seconds.
FairWork Mate is an independent commercial service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Fair Work Commission, or any Australian Government agency. Content is general information and estimates only — not legal, financial, or tax advice. Always verify with the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified professional.
Your complete guide to returning to work after parental leave in Australia — your right to return to the same position, requesting flexible work on return, breastfeeding rights, discrimination protections, what to do if your role has changed, and part-time return options.
12 Months Unpaid Parental Leave Australia: The Statutory Right You Don't Need Permission ForEvery eligible employee has a legal right to up to 12 months of unpaid parental leave — no employer permission required. Here's exactly how the statutory entitlement works under the Fair Work Act, how to take it, and how to request a further 12 months.
Made Redundant While on Maternity Leave — Your RightsIt IS possible for a genuine redundancy to occur during maternity leave, but your employer must prove it's genuine. Learn about presumption of adverse action, how to challenge, and your entitlements.
Free tools surface the issue. Our partners help you solve it.
Authorised Employment Hero Partner
Australian HR, payroll, rostering and award interpretation in one platform. Used by 300,000+ businesses. Fixes the underlying payroll/compliance issues our calculators surface.
Best for: SMEs that have outgrown spreadsheet payroll or want automated award interpretation.
See Employment HeroAuthorised Lawpath Partner
Register an ABN, form a Pty Ltd, or grab an ongoing legal plan. 400,000+ Australian businesses use Lawpath for fast, fixed-price legal admin without the $400/hr solicitor bill.
Best for: contractors, sole traders, scaling businesses, anyone forming a company.
See LawpathIT, Microsoft & cyber partner
Microsoft 365, Copilot rollouts, Essential Eight, Privacy Act 2026 and board-level cyber compliance for Australian SMBs. Where pay and HR end, your data and IT obligations begin.
Best for: SMBs running on Microsoft 365, anyone hitting cyber/privacy compliance, boards wanting an outside read on IT risk.
See FrontrowAffiliate partners — commissions fund the free tools on this site. We only recommend partners we've vetted as a good fit for Australian workplaces.