Members of the NSW Public Service are to be eligible to receive double the length of family and domestic violence leave provisions from next year under new arrangements agreed by the Government.
Announced by the Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence, Natalie Ward, all public sector workers will be able to access 20 days of paid family and domestic violence leave per calendar year from 1 January 2023.
Mrs Ward said the new enhanced arrangements would apply across the NSW public sector and had been developed after discussion with Government employers, unions and family and domestic experts in violence policy.
“As the largest employer in NSW, it is our Government’s responsibility to provide workers with the support and security to take time away from work to take the necessary steps to find safety for themselves and their family,” Mrs Ward said.
“That is why we have made this commitment to double the amount of paid family and domestic violence leave available to all public sector employees from 10 to 20 days, to give our workers greater support at a time when they need it most,” she said.
“Everyone has the right to be safe both at home and in the workplace, which is why we have made addressing the issue of women’s safety and the prevention of domestic and family violence a priority with record funding to increase support across the sector.”
Minister for Employee Relations, Damien Tudehope said the new leave provisions built on other family and safety-oriented measures that had already been put in place for public sector workers.
