Paternity and partner leave in Australia: what dads and co-parents get
Dad and Partner Pay no longer exists. Partners now share Parental Leave Pay, with days of their own that nobody else can use.
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
In Australia, dads and partners now share Parental Leave Pay with the birth mother. For a child born or adopted from 1 July 2026, 20 of the family's 130 days are reserved for the partner, paid at $200.94 a day before tax as of October 2026. Partners must claim themselves, and both parents must meet the work test.
What changed
Until mid-2023, partners claimed a separate payment called Dad and Partner Pay. Services Australia explains that it combined with Parental Leave Pay for children born or adopted from 1 July 2023, and that claims closed on 30 June 2024. Today the family has one pool of Parental Leave Pay days, with a share reserved for the partner.
The partner's reserved days
| Child born or adopted from | Family total | Reserved for the partner |
|---|---|---|
| 1 July 2024 | 110 days | 10 days |
| 1 July 2025 | 120 days | 15 days |
| 1 July 2026 | 130 days | 20 days |
Reserved days can only be used by the partner. If the partner does not claim, or is not eligible, those days are lost: the birth mother cannot take them. As of October 2026, 20 days are worth 20 x $200.94 = $4,018.80 before tax if taken in 2026-27.
The birth mother can also share more days with her partner from the rest of the family's balance. She approves the number in her Centrelink online account; the partner can only claim what she approved.
The rule that catches partners out
If you are the birth mother's partner, the biological father or his partner, both you and the birth mother must meet the work test (10 of the 13 months before the birth, at least 330 hours). If you meet it but she does not, you are not eligible, except in exceptional circumstances, for example if the birth mother cannot care for the child and you will care for the child for at least 26 weeks.
Taking days together
For a child born from 1 July 2025, you can take up to 20 days at the same time as the birth mother. More may be allowed when:
- the birth mother had a caesarean or a complication or medical condition at birth;
- your baby stayed in hospital, or was hospitalised right after birth, for at least 14 days;
- your baby developed a complication or illness and needs extended care;
- you or your partner have a medical condition;
- it was a multiple birth, or your baby was stillborn or died.
Unpaid leave for partners
Under the Fair Work rules summarised by Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, an employee whose spouse or de facto partner gives birth can take up to 12 months of unpaid parental leave after 12 months with their employer, with the same notice: 10 weeks in writing, dates confirmed 4 weeks before. Employer-funded partner leave, if your workplace offers it, does not reduce Parental Leave Pay.
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Questions parents ask
How much paternity leave are fathers entitled to in Australia?
Unpaid, up to 12 months (extendable to 24) with 12 months' service. Paid by the government, the partner's own share of Parental Leave Pay, which is 20 reserved days for a child born from 1 July 2026, plus any days the birth mother shares. Many employers add their own paid leave.
Is Dad and Partner Pay still available?
No. It combined with Parental Leave Pay for children born or adopted from 1 July 2023, and claims closed on 30 June 2024.
Can both parents be on Parental Leave Pay at the same time?
Yes, for up to 20 days at the same time for a child born from 1 July 2025, and more with an exemption such as a caesarean, a baby in hospital 14 days or more, or twins.
Does a same-sex partner get the reserved days?
Yes. Services Australia asks the birth mother's partner in a same-sex relationship to answer yes to being her partner; the same sharing rules and reserved days apply.
Sources
- Services Australia — How much Parental Leave Pay you can get (reserved days) checked October 13, 2026
- Services Australia — Sharing your Parental Leave Pay checked October 13, 2026
- Services Australia — Dad and Partner Pay (closed) checked October 13, 2026
- Services Australia — Work requirements for Parental Leave Pay checked October 13, 2026
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby — Paid and unpaid parental leave checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.