Researchers at the Australian National University (ANU) have recommended refreshing the nation’s Paid Parental Leave (PPL) policy to encourage more men to take advantage of the family entitlement.
The researchers say the change is needed because even though all new fathers are entitled to take the leave, only two per cent do.
Senior Research Fellow at the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health at the ANU, Liana Leach said Australia needed to create a more gender-equitable and flexible policy.
Dr Leach said the current PPL scheme was not flexible enough for mothers and fathers.
“The 18 weeks’ minimum pay can be transferred to fathers, but this is rarely done because it is received by the primary carer,” Dr Leach said.
“As the policy stands, parents need to make a decision about who the primary carer is in the family, and thus the leave is only transferred to fathers in about two per cent of cases.”
Dr Leach said there was a stigma around fathers taking parental leave and that the ‘male-breadwinner’ culture remained in Australia
“Fathers worry about taking time off from work and not advancing their careers.”
She said the new research showed that the current PPL scheme, which provides eligible primary carers up to 18 weeks’, and partners up to two weeks’ paid parental leave at the national minimum wage, was designed as a minimum model to be improved upon.
Dr Leach said further research was needed to find out why when some employers do offer dedicated leave for fathers and partners, it is still not being taken up.
