Applications for Australia’s first Paid Parental Leave scheme open today

From today working parents expecting a baby in the New Year will be able to lodge their claims for Paid Parental Leave. We know how busy it can be for new parents when a baby arrives. To make things easier, parents can lodge their claims up to three months before their baby’s due date. The Gillard Government’s Paid Parental Leave scheme provides eligible working parents of babies born or adopted from 1 January 2011 with parental leave pay for up to 18 weeks at the minimum wage (currently $570 a week before tax). For many working parents, including casual and part-time workers, contractors and the self-employed, this will be the first time they will have access to paid parental leave.