Maternity leave in Australia typically consists of up to 12 months of unpaid leave that an employee can take, provided they have worked for their employer for at least 12 months and are the primary caregiver. This period can be extended by negotiating an additional 12 months with the employer if more leave is needed. Regarding paid parental leave, from July 2025, the Australian government offers up to 24 weeks of paid Parental Leave Pay at the national minimum wage, increasing to 26 weeks from July 2026. This payment includes superannuation contributions starting in July 2025. The paid leave can be shared between parents, and employers may provide additional paid leave, although that varies widely. Employees can start maternity leave up to 6 weeks before the expected due date, and the leave must generally end within 24 months of the child’s birth or adoption. It is illegal for employers to dismiss or demote employees for taking maternity leave, and employees have the right to return to their same or an equivalent position after leave.