Partner Leave
Public Service
Paid partner leave
An employee, other than a casual, is eligible for paid partner leave provided that the employee has had a minimum of twelve months continuous paid service. An employee who submits satisfactory evidence that he/she has accepted responsibility for a child shall be granted partner leave on full pay for one week, or for periods aggregating up to five working days to care for the child or the mother of the child.
The conditions regarding qualifying service for partner leave and payment during a period of leave are specified on the parental absence page.
The employee should consult with his/her manager regarding when he/she wishes to take this leave. Unless otherwise approved, leave must be taken within the period commencing one week before the expected date of confinement or the date from which the employee accepts responsibility for the child, and concluding six weeks after the actual date of confinement or the date from which the employee accepts responsibility for the child. The Department may allow an employee to take partner leave at half pay for a period equal to twice the period to which the employee would otherwise be entitled.
An employee will also be entitled to one week's paid partner leave if the mother of the child has a miscarriage of her pregnancy where it has advanced to at least twenty weeks.
Unpaid partner leave
An employee who has at least 12 months continuous paid service will be entitled to 51 weeks of unpaid partner leave provided:
- the employee is the child's primary care giver throughout the period of leave; and
- the leave doesn't extend past the child's first birthday.
An eligible casual staff member is entitled to unpaid partner leave. The conditions regarding the eligibility of casual staff for such leave are specified on the parental absence page.
Unpaid grandparent leave
An employee (other than a casual) who is or will be the primary caregiver of a grandchild will be entitled to a period of up to 52 weeks continuous unpaid grandparent leave in respect of either the birth or adoption of a grandchild of the employee.
Return to work
An employee must confirm his/her intention of returning to work by notice in writing to the Department, given not less than four weeks prior to the expiration of the unpaid partner leave.
The return to work can be on a part-time basis by agreement between the employee and the manager until the commencement of the child's schooling. The Department will not unreasonably withhold agreement to such part-time work requests.
Refer to Procedures heading on the parental absence page for further details.
Supporting documentation
An application for paid leave should include a:
- medical certificate stating the expected birth date, or
- certificate stating the actual birth date, or
- certified photocopy of the extract of birth entry.
An application for paternity/partner leave will also need to include a statutory declaration stating:
- except in relation to leave taken simultaneously with the child’s mother, that the employee is seeking partner leave to become the primary care giver of the child;
- particulars of any period of maternity leave sought or taken by the staff member’s spouse; and
- that for the period of partner leave the employee will not engage in any conduct inconsistent with their terms and conditions of employment.
Teaching Service | Public Service
Other Resources
Procedures & Forms
- Parental Absence Application Form (Word - 290Kb) (Maternity/Partner/Adoption)
Legislation
Related Topics