Partner and paternity leave

Academic and general staff

Partner leave is available for staff who are not the primary caregiver of the child and may be taken in the period three months prior to and three months after the birth or placement of the child. Employees who are not the primary caregiver of the child will be entitled to 10 working days paid partner leave. Eligible casual employees are entitled to 10 working days unpaid partner leave.  For part-time employees, the paid leave will be at the appropriate fraction.  A further 10 working days unpaid partner leave is available if the birth is by caesarean section.

If the partner (who is an employee) is the primary care-giver of the child, in addition to the above leave period they will also be entitled to a further unbroken, unpaid, leave period providing the total period of partner leave does not exceed 52 weeks. This entitlement shall be reduced by any period of maternity or adoption leave taken by the other partner, and shall not be taken at the same time as maternity or adoption leave, except during the three weeks following the birth or placement of the child. A partner (other than a casual employee) may apply for additional unpaid partner leave. Subject to operational requirements, an additional period of up to 12 months unpaid leave will be granted. The employee may apply to return to work following from a period of parental leave on a part-time basis until the child reaches school age.

Where the employee's period of parental leave is 12 months or less, the employee is entitled to return to return to the position held immediately before taking parental leave. If the position no longer exists or the employee has been absent for a period longer than 12 months then the University will endeavour to employ him/her in a position of the same level and duties as the previous one.

TAFE teaching staff

A TAFE teaching employee who has completed 12 months service with Federation University Australia and who submits a statutory declaration stating that his spouse is pregnant or is an approved applicant to adopt a child is entitled to ten days full pay. This leave may be taken in the period three months prior to and three months after the birth or placement of the child.    For part-time employees, the paid leave will be at the appropriate fraction.

In addition a TAFE teaching employee who submits a statutory declaration stating that he is the primary care giver of the child shall be entitled to a further period of unpaid leave providing the total period of partner leave does not exceed 52 weeks.

Eligible casual TAFE teaching staff employed by the University are entitled to up to 52 weeks unpaid leave.

On the conclusion of leave the employee is normally entitled to resume in a position as far as practicable similar to that held by the employee prior to leave.

The employee may request further unpaid leave (up to one year) and to return to work on a part-time basis until the child reaches school age. Currently there is no award provision for paid leave for a female whose partner is expecting the birth of their child or whose partner is to be the primary caregiver of an adopted child. Relevant entitlements that could be explored are miscellaneous leavepersonal leave if the employee's partner is sick, annual leave or leave without pay.

Government paid parental leave

There are several forms of government paid parental leave that you may be eligible for. Please use the below links to find out more information on these:

How to apply for partner leave

  • Understand your partner leave entitlements and determine the best plan for your circumstances.  See links below and/or discuss your situation and plans confidentially with your supervisor and/or People and Culture (raise a case in Workday).
  • If you plan to take extended unpaid leave it would be useful to discuss this well in advance with your supervisor.
  • Login to Workday to submit your request, uploading any necessary supporting documentation, such as a Statutory Declaration.

More information

For detailed information on leave entitlements and conditions for different staff categories, please refer to your relevant enterprise agreement:

Please note the 'provisions/entitlements' above do not apply to casual or sessional staff members.