The NSW Industrial Relations Act 1996 provides employees with minimum entitlements to parental leave. Awards, enterprise agreements and contracts of employment may provide additional entitlements.
Parental leave is unpaid leave, unless otherwise specified in an award or agreement.
An employee does not have to be married to be entitled to parental leave. Male and female employees may be entitled to parental leave. A full time, part-time or casual employee qualifies for parental leave after completing at least 12 months continuous service with the employer. Other casuals or seasonal employees are not eligable. Once an employee has completed 12 months with the same employer, generally he or she is entitled to a separate period of parental leave for each furture child.