How much paid parental leave does each force give?
Between 14 and 18 weeks at full pay for the primary carer, depending on where you serve.
Every Australian police force pays its own parental leave on top of the government scheme. The amounts have risen fast: Tasmania moved to 18 weeks and the AFP is lifting partner leave in stages to 18 weeks. Here's the headline entitlement in each force for a primary carer and for the other parent.
- Primary carer, paid
- 14 weeks (plus 2 bonus weeks in some cases; 52 weeks in total)
- Other parent
- Not separately stated in our data; the NSW public sector scheme gives each eligible parent 14 weeks, plus 2 bonus weeks each when both use their leave (confirm how cl 22 applies)
- Service needed
- 40 weeks' continuous service
- Primary carer, paid
- 16 weeks (plus up to 36 weeks unpaid)
- Other parent
- 4 weeks paid, plus up to 12 more paid weeks with conditions
- Service needed
- Paid maternity leave: 31 weeks' service
- Primary carer, paid
- 14 weeks (under Directive 08/24, applied by CA cl 63)
- Other parent
- 1 week paid
- Service needed
- 12 months' service
- Primary carer, paid
- 14 weeks (560 hours, within 52 weeks' leave; can be taken at half pay)
- Other parent
- 1 week, from your own leave or unpaid (cl 35.25)
- Service needed
- 12 months' continuous WA public sector service
- Primary carer, paid
- 16 weeks (20 weeks after 5 years (our data; not re-confirmed))
- Other parent
- Paid partner leave (amount not confirmed)
- Service needed
- 12 months' service (our data)
- Primary carer, paid
- 18 weeks (primary caregiver (award cl 15.7))
- Other parent
- 4 weeks paid, plus up to 12 more if taking over primary care
- Service needed
- 12 months' continuous service
- Primary carer, paid
- 14 weeks (18 weeks after 5 years; up to 3 years in total)
- Other parent
- 1 week paid; 2 weeks after 5 years
- Service needed
- 12 months (pro rata from 39 weeks)
- Primary carer, paid
- 18 weeks (or spread over up to 36 weeks at no less than half pay)
- Other parent
- 14 weeks paid now; 18 weeks from 28 February 2027
- Service needed
- From day one
| Force | Primary carer, paid | Other parent | Service needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW Police | 14 weeks (plus 2 bonus weeks in some cases; 52 weeks in total) | Not separately stated in our data; the NSW public sector scheme gives each eligible parent 14 weeks, plus 2 bonus weeks each when both use their leave (confirm how cl 22 applies) | 40 weeks' continuous service |
| Victoria Police | 16 weeks (plus up to 36 weeks unpaid) | 4 weeks paid, plus up to 12 more paid weeks with conditions | Paid maternity leave: 31 weeks' service |
| QPS | 14 weeks (under Directive 08/24, applied by CA cl 63) | 1 week paid | 12 months' service |
| WA Police | 14 weeks (560 hours, within 52 weeks' leave; can be taken at half pay) | 1 week, from your own leave or unpaid (cl 35.25) | 12 months' continuous WA public sector service |
| SAPOL | 16 weeks (20 weeks after 5 years (our data; not re-confirmed)) | Paid partner leave (amount not confirmed) | 12 months' service (our data) |
| Tasmania Police | 18 weeks (primary caregiver (award cl 15.7)) | 4 weeks paid, plus up to 12 more if taking over primary care | 12 months' continuous service |
| NT Police | 14 weeks (18 weeks after 5 years; up to 3 years in total) | 1 week paid; 2 weeks after 5 years | 12 months (pro rata from 39 weeks) |
| AFP | 18 weeks (or spread over up to 36 weeks at no less than half pay) | 14 weeks paid now; 18 weeks from 28 February 2027 | From day one |
From each force's award or agreement as recorded in our data files, checked against the instruments where we could read them in October 2026. SA's figures come from our data file and we couldn't re-confirm them in the current agreement text.
Most for primary carers
18 weeks
Tasmania and the AFP
AFP secondary carer
14 weeks
rising to 18 on 28 Feb 2027
Longest total leave
3 years
NT, paid and unpaid
Service thresholds matter if you've recently joined or transferred. The AFP pays from day one. NSW needs 40 weeks' continuous service. Queensland, WA, Tasmania and the NT need 12 months, with the NT paying pro rata from 39 weeks. If you're moving between forces, see police interstate transfers, because previous service doesn't always count.
What does each force's parental leave rule actually say?
The headline weeks hide conditions that change what you get: half-pay options, extra weeks after five years, secondary carers who take over, and how long you can stay off in total. This is each force's rule in full, as recorded in our data file with its clause.
- Parental leave rule
- 14 weeks paid (after 40 weeks' continuous service), plus 2 weeks bonus paid parental leave in some cases, plus 38 weeks unpaid (52 weeks in total), with a right to request a further 52 weeks (cl 22 as varied 12 Sep 2025).
- Parental leave rule
- Primary caregiver: 16 weeks paid plus up to 36 weeks unpaid. Secondary caregiver: 4 weeks paid plus 12 weeks additional paid (with conditions) plus unpaid leave up to 52 weeks. Paid maternity leave (birth, not primary carer): 14 weeks paid with 31 weeks' service. Paid partner leave: 4 weeks (cl 147, 148, 150, 151).
- Parental leave rule
- 14 weeks' paid leave for the primary carer and 1 week for the other parent, after 12 months' service, under Directive 08/24 (applied through cl 63). Super is paid for the whole 52-week parental leave period, paid or unpaid, from 1 Jul 2024.
- Parental leave rule
- 52 weeks' parental leave, including 560 hours (14 weeks) paid (cl 35). The partner's 1 week of leave at the birth is taken from the partner's own leave or as unpaid leave, not as extra paid leave (cl 35.25).
- Parental leave rule
- Paid maternity, adoption and conforming surrogacy leave: 16 weeks after 12 months' service, 20 weeks after 5 years' service; total paid and unpaid leave up to 104 weeks (cl 32.3). Paid partner leave is also provided (detail not extracted).
- Parental leave rule
- 18 weeks paid primary caregiver leave and 4 weeks paid secondary caregiver leave, each after 12 months' continuous service (award). The recruitment site still says 14 weeks paid maternity leave, which is out of date.
- Parental leave rule
- Primary caregiver: 14 weeks paid after 12 months' service (pro-rata from 39 weeks), 18 weeks paid after 5 years, up to 3 years in total. Partner leave: 1 week paid after 12 months, 2 weeks paid after 5 years, up to 3 years in total.
- Parental leave rule
- Primary caregiver: 18 weeks paid (or 36 weeks at half pay) within a 24-month parental leave period, from day one. Secondary caregiver: 14 weeks paid from 1 Mar 2026, rising to 18 weeks from 28 Feb 2027 (was 8 weeks to 28 Feb 2025 and 11 weeks to 28 Feb 2026). Super is paid during paid parental leave.
| Force | Parental leave rule |
|---|---|
| NSW Police | 14 weeks paid (after 40 weeks' continuous service), plus 2 weeks bonus paid parental leave in some cases, plus 38 weeks unpaid (52 weeks in total), with a right to request a further 52 weeks (cl 22 as varied 12 Sep 2025). |
| Victoria Police | Primary caregiver: 16 weeks paid plus up to 36 weeks unpaid. Secondary caregiver: 4 weeks paid plus 12 weeks additional paid (with conditions) plus unpaid leave up to 52 weeks. Paid maternity leave (birth, not primary carer): 14 weeks paid with 31 weeks' service. Paid partner leave: 4 weeks (cl 147, 148, 150, 151). |
| QPS | 14 weeks' paid leave for the primary carer and 1 week for the other parent, after 12 months' service, under Directive 08/24 (applied through cl 63). Super is paid for the whole 52-week parental leave period, paid or unpaid, from 1 Jul 2024. |
| WA Police | 52 weeks' parental leave, including 560 hours (14 weeks) paid (cl 35). The partner's 1 week of leave at the birth is taken from the partner's own leave or as unpaid leave, not as extra paid leave (cl 35.25). |
| SAPOL | Paid maternity, adoption and conforming surrogacy leave: 16 weeks after 12 months' service, 20 weeks after 5 years' service; total paid and unpaid leave up to 104 weeks (cl 32.3). Paid partner leave is also provided (detail not extracted). |
| Tasmania Police | 18 weeks paid primary caregiver leave and 4 weeks paid secondary caregiver leave, each after 12 months' continuous service (award). The recruitment site still says 14 weeks paid maternity leave, which is out of date. |
| NT Police | Primary caregiver: 14 weeks paid after 12 months' service (pro-rata from 39 weeks), 18 weeks paid after 5 years, up to 3 years in total. Partner leave: 1 week paid after 12 months, 2 weeks paid after 5 years, up to 3 years in total. |
| AFP | Primary caregiver: 18 weeks paid (or 36 weeks at half pay) within a 24-month parental leave period, from day one. Secondary caregiver: 14 weeks paid from 1 Mar 2026, rising to 18 weeks from 28 Feb 2027 (was 8 weeks to 28 Feb 2025 and 11 weeks to 28 Feb 2026). Super is paid during paid parental leave. |
Notes by force
- Queensland: the Certified Agreement 2025 applies the public sector's Directive 08/24 to police (cl 63). The directive, in force since 30 September 2024, gives 14 weeks of long paid parental leave or 1 week of short paid parental leave, with a half-pay option.
- WA: 560 hours (14 weeks) paid within up to 52 weeks of leave, and the paid leave can be doubled at half pay (cl 35).
- Tasmania: the award (cl 15.7) gives 18 weeks; the recruitment site still says 14 weeks of maternity leave, which is out of date. Up to 8 weeks can be taken at the same time as the other parent.
- AFP: the 18 weeks can be spread over up to 36 weeks at no less than half pay, within a 24-month parental leave period (cl 61).
For the rest of your leave package, see police leave entitlements or your force's own page: NSW, Victoria, Queensland and WA.
What does the other parent get?
Partner leave varies far more than primary carer leave.
If you're the non-birth parent, your force's entitlement could be anything from 14 paid weeks to a week taken from your own annual leave. This matters most where both parents are police, which is common, and where you're planning who stays home when.
- Other parent's paid leave
- Not separately stated in our data; the NSW public sector scheme gives each eligible parent 14 weeks, plus 2 bonus weeks each when both use their leave (confirm how cl 22 applies)
- Other parent's paid leave
- 4 weeks paid, plus up to 12 more paid weeks with conditions
- Other parent's paid leave
- 1 week paid
- Other parent's paid leave
- 1 week, from your own leave or unpaid (cl 35.25)
- Other parent's paid leave
- Paid partner leave (amount not confirmed)
- Other parent's paid leave
- 4 weeks paid, plus up to 12 more if taking over primary care
- Other parent's paid leave
- 1 week paid; 2 weeks after 5 years
- Other parent's paid leave
- 14 weeks paid now; 18 weeks from 28 February 2027
| Force | Other parent's paid leave |
|---|---|
| NSW Police | Not separately stated in our data; the NSW public sector scheme gives each eligible parent 14 weeks, plus 2 bonus weeks each when both use their leave (confirm how cl 22 applies) |
| Victoria Police | 4 weeks paid, plus up to 12 more paid weeks with conditions |
| QPS | 1 week paid |
| WA Police | 1 week, from your own leave or unpaid (cl 35.25) |
| SAPOL | Paid partner leave (amount not confirmed) |
| Tasmania Police | 4 weeks paid, plus up to 12 more if taking over primary care |
| NT Police | 1 week paid; 2 weeks after 5 years |
| AFP | 14 weeks paid now; 18 weeks from 28 February 2027 |
Most generous for partners
- ✓AFP: 14 weeks paid now, 18 from 28 February 2027 (it was 8 weeks when the agreement started)
- ✓Victoria and Tasmania: 4 weeks paid, plus up to 12 more if the partner takes over primary care
- ✓NSW: the public sector scheme adds 2 bonus weeks each when both parents use their leave
Least generous for partners
- ✕WA: the partner's week at the birth comes from annual leave, long service leave, time off in lieu or unpaid leave (cl 35.25)
- ✕Queensland: 1 week
- ✕NT: 1 week, or 2 after 5 years' service
The government scheme helps here. Of the 130 days of Parental Leave Pay, 20 are reserved for the partner for babies born from 1 July 2026, and parents can take up to 20 days at the same time.
How does the government's Parental Leave Pay work?
A minimum-wage payment from Services Australia, on top of what your force pays.
Parental Leave Pay is the Australian Government's scheme, paid at the national minimum wage. It's separate from your force's leave, and you can get both. For babies born or adopted from 1 July 2026, a family can get up to 130 days (26 weeks), up from 120 days in 2025-26.
Days per family
130
26 weeks, births from 1 July 2026
Daily rate, 2026-27
$200.94
$1004.70 a 5-day week
Reserved for partner
20 days
can't be transferred
Must be used within
2 years
of the birth
The tests
- 1
Work test
10 of 13 monthsYou must have worked 10 of the 13 months before the birth (295 of 392 days) and at least 330 hours, with no gap of more than 12 weeks between working days. Paid leave counts as work, so leave in the year before the birth doesn't break your eligibility.
- 2
Income test
Previous yearYour adjusted taxable income in the financial year before the birth or claim date (whichever is earlier) must be $186,487 or less for 2025-26. If you're over, you can still qualify if your family income is $386,525 or less.
- 3
Claim on time
TimingYou can claim up to 3 months before the birth. To be paid from the birth date, claim and give proof within 14 weeks. At least one parent must claim within 52 weeks; back pay is limited to 100 days.
Overtime counts toward the income test
The income test uses adjusted taxable income, which includes overtime and allowances. A senior sergeant, or a senior constable with heavy overtime, could be close to $186,487 in the year before the birth. If you're near it, check early, because it's the previous year's income that counts, not this year's.
Long-serving employees usually get the first block of Parental Leave Pay through their employer's payroll, because employers must pay it to employees who meet Services Australia's criteria. Later blocks are paid directly by Services Australia. Parental Leave Pay is taxable income.
How do you combine force leave and Parental Leave Pay?
You can take them in either order, or at the same time.
Services Australia says Parental Leave Pay can be taken "before, during or after" any paid or unpaid employer-funded leave, including annual and long service leave. So the question isn't whether you can have both, but how to sequence them for your family's cash flow.
Worked example: a Queensland Senior Constable
A primary carer at the top of Senior Constable in Queensland earns $118,127 base. She takes 14 weeks of employer-paid leave first, then 110 days of Parental Leave Pay, leaving the partner's 20 reserved days for her partner.
Employer-paid parental leave
- Weeks
- 14
- Gross pay
- $31,718 calc
- Notes
- Base salary ÷ 52.14 × 14 (Directive 08/24 via CA cl 63)
Government Parental Leave Pay
- Weeks
- 22
- Gross pay
- $22,103 calc
- Notes
- 110 days × $200.94
Total paid time at home
- Weeks
- 36
- Gross pay
- $53,821 calc
- Notes
- Before tax
Partner's reserved Parental Leave Pay
- Weeks
- 4
- Gross pay
- $4,019 calc
- Notes
- Plus 1 week of employer leave if the partner is also in QPS
Employer super on parental leave
- Weeks
- Up to 52
- Gross pay
- $21,263 calc
- Notes
- 18% for up to 52 weeks, paid or unpaid
| Stage | Weeks | Gross pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer-paid parental leave | 14 | $31,718 calc | Base salary ÷ 52.14 × 14 (Directive 08/24 via CA cl 63) |
| Government Parental Leave Pay | 22 | $22,103 calc | 110 days × $200.94 |
| Total paid time at home | 36 | $53,821 calc | Before tax |
| Partner's reserved Parental Leave Pay | 4 | $4,019 calc | Plus 1 week of employer leave if the partner is also in QPS |
| Employer super on parental leave | Up to 52 | $21,263 calc | 18% for up to 52 weeks, paid or unpaid |
Calculated by us from the current Queensland Senior Constable 2.10 rate (QPS's official CPI Uplift Adjustment rate). Excludes OSA and other allowances. Taking the 14 weeks at half pay instead would stretch the employer leave to 28 weeks.
At full pay she'd normally take home about $3,454 a fortnight. Parental Leave Pay is much lower, about $2009.40 a fortnight before tax, so the order you take the two in changes your monthly budget even though the total is the same. Some families take the minimum-wage weeks while the partner is still on full pay, then the employer weeks later.
The total is the same either way. The order decides which months are tight.
What is your force's parental leave worth in dollars?
Weeks are easier to compare as dollars. Here's the gross value of each force's primary carer leave on its headline first-year constable and top Senior Constable salaries.
- Paid weeks
- 14
- First-year constable
- $92,576
- Value
- $24,857 calc
- Top Senior Constable
- $139,688
- Value
- $37,507 calc
- Paid weeks
- 16
- First-year constable
- $84,060
- Value
- $25,795 calc
- Top Senior Constable
- $118,945
- Value
- $36,500 calc
- Paid weeks
- 14
- First-year constable
- $78,505
- Value
- $21,079 calc
- Top Senior Constable
- $118,127
- Value
- $31,718 calc
- Paid weeks
- 14
- First-year constable
- $94,651
- Value
- $25,415 calc
- Top Senior Constable
- $124,558
- Value
- $33,445 calc
- Paid weeks
- 16
- First-year constable
- $83,398
- Value
- $25,592 calc
- Top Senior Constable
- $117,542
- Value
- $36,070 calc
- Paid weeks
- 18
- First-year constable
- $73,518
- Value
- $25,380 calc
- Top Senior Constable
- $107,420
- Value
- $37,084 calc
- Paid weeks
- 14
- First-year constable
- $87,005
- Value
- $23,362 calc
- Top Senior Constable
- $120,539
- Value
- $32,366 calc
- Paid weeks
- 18
- First-year constable
- $72,317
- Value
- $24,966 calc
- Top Senior Constable
- $111,861
- Value
- $38,617 calc
| Force | Paid weeks | First-year constable | Value | Top Senior Constable | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW Police | 14 | $92,576 | $24,857 calc | $139,688 | $37,507 calc |
| Victoria Police | 16 | $84,060 | $25,795 calc | $118,945 | $36,500 calc |
| QPS | 14 | $78,505 | $21,079 calc | $118,127 | $31,718 calc |
| WA Police | 14 | $94,651 | $25,415 calc | $124,558 | $33,445 calc |
| SAPOL | 16 | $83,398 | $25,592 calc | $117,542 | $36,070 calc |
| Tasmania Police | 18 | $73,518 | $25,380 calc | $107,420 | $37,084 calc |
| NT Police | 14 | $87,005 | $23,362 calc | $120,539 | $32,366 calc |
| AFP | 18 | $72,317 | $24,966 calc | $111,861 | $38,617 calc |
Calculated by us: headline salary ÷ 52.14 × paid weeks, before tax. Headline salaries differ in what they include: NSW includes the 11.5% loading and Victoria the 13% commuted penalty; the others are base salary. Whether loadings and allowances are paid during parental leave differs by force.
Add the government's Parental Leave Pay, worth about $26,122 for the full 130 days across a family, and the gap between forces narrows. To see what your own leave pays per fortnight after tax, use the take-home calculator.
Work out your fortnightly pay on leave
Pick your force and pay point to see your normal take-home, then compare it with Parental Leave Pay of $2,009.40 a fortnight before tax.
Do you get super while on parental leave?
It depends heavily on your force, and unpaid weeks are where the gap opens up.
Super on paid leave is normal. The question is the unpaid months, often the second half of a year off. Several forces now pay super through some or all of them.
- Super during parental leave
- 18% employer super for up to 52 weeks of parental leave, paid or unpaid, from 1 July 2024
- Source
- Queensland Government parental leave super policy (names QPS)
- Super during parental leave
- Paid for the first 12 months, paid or unpaid; at double the super guarantee rate during the paid primary carer weeks
- Source
- Consent Agreement 2022 cl 36
- Super during parental leave
- Paid on 24 weeks of unpaid parental leave
- Source
- WA Government statement on the police agreement (July 2023)
- Super during parental leave
- 15.4% on paid leave that counts as service; we found no super on unpaid parental leave
- Source
- EA 2024-2027 cl 17
- Super during parental leave
- Not confirmed for sworn officers
- Source
- Ask your fund or PANSW
- Super during parental leave
- Not confirmed; ESSS is a defined benefit scheme
- Source
- Ask ESSSuper
- Super during parental leave
- Not confirmed
- Source
- Ask Super SA
- Super during parental leave
- No super clause found in the award's parental leave section
- Source
- Ask your fund
| Force | Super during parental leave | Source |
|---|---|---|
| QPS | 18% employer super for up to 52 weeks of parental leave, paid or unpaid, from 1 July 2024 | Queensland Government parental leave super policy (names QPS) |
| NT Police | Paid for the first 12 months, paid or unpaid; at double the super guarantee rate during the paid primary carer weeks | Consent Agreement 2022 cl 36 |
| WA Police | Paid on 24 weeks of unpaid parental leave | WA Government statement on the police agreement (July 2023) |
| AFP | 15.4% on paid leave that counts as service; we found no super on unpaid parental leave | EA 2024-2027 cl 17 |
| NSW Police | Not confirmed for sworn officers | Ask your fund or PANSW |
| Victoria Police | Not confirmed; ESSS is a defined benefit scheme | Ask ESSSuper |
| SAPOL | Not confirmed | Ask Super SA |
| Tasmania Police | No super clause found in the award's parental leave section | Ask your fund |
The NT's double rate is unusual and valuable. During the paid primary carer weeks, super is paid at twice the guarantee rate: on a top Senior Constable salary of $120,539, that's about $7,768 over 14 weeks instead of $3,884 calc, assuming the 12% guarantee rate.
Super on Parental Leave Pay
For births and adoptions from 1 July 2025, the ATO pays super on government Parental Leave Pay, based on the super guarantee rate plus an interest component. It's paid as a lump sum to your fund after the end of the financial year, starting in 2026-27, and you don't need to claim it. It counts toward your concessional contributions cap. Our police super guide explains how time off affects each scheme.
Are allowances paid while you're on parental leave?
Employer parental leave is generally paid at your ordinary rate, but which allowances count as ordinary pay differs by force and by allowance. Our data doesn't settle every case, so treat this as a list of things to check rather than answers.
Ask payroll about each of these
- ✓ Loadings built into salary, such as NSW's 11.5% loading and Victoria's 13% commuted penalty.
- ✓ Shift allowances: Queensland's 21% OSA is paid on paid leave, excluding long service leave, but check how parental leave is treated.
- ✓ Detective, plain clothes and specialist allowances: Queensland's detective allowance is paid on all forms of paid leave (CA cl 29.5).
- ✓ Remote and locality allowances, which some forces keep paying on leave.
- ✓ Whether half-pay options halve the allowances too.
- ✓ How leave accrues: whether annual leave and long service leave keep building during paid and unpaid parental leave.
For allowances by force, see police overtime and penalty rates and your force's salary page, such as QPS pay. Detectives can check detective pay and allowances.
What are your rights when you come back?
Coming back is often harder to plan than going. Rosters, child care and a partner's shifts all have to line up. The instruments give you some protection.
- 1
Return part-time (NSW)
AwardThe NSW award lets officers return from parental leave on a part-time basis until the child reaches school age (cl 25.1.3).
- 2
Ask for flexible work (AFP and Victoria)
RequestThe AFP agreement says flexible work requests are considered 'with a bias towards approving', with a written reply in 21 days (s89). AFP and Victoria Police members also have the Fair Work Act right to request after 12 months' service.
- 3
Extend your leave (NSW)
Longer leaveAfter 52 weeks, NSW officers have a right to request a further 52 weeks (cl 22 as varied).
- 4
Work a day without losing PLP
PLPThere are no Keeping in Touch days any more. If you work an hour or more on a Parental Leave Pay day, you move that day. Being recalled to duty as a law enforcement officer is an allowable reason to work.
Our part-time and flexible policing guide covers part-time pay formulas, job share and purchased leave in each force, with take-home examples at 0.6 and 0.8.
A planning checklist for police parents
Six months before
- ✓ Confirm your service meets your force's threshold on the expected birth date.
- ✓ Check the Parental Leave Pay income test against last financial year's taxable income, including overtime.
- ✓ Decide who is primary carer, and whether either of you will use a half-pay option.
- ✓ Map out the order: employer weeks, Parental Leave Pay days, partner's reserved days, annual leave.
- ✓ Ask payroll which allowances continue and how super is paid in unpaid weeks.
- ✓ Give written notice: NSW needs 8 weeks (cl 22.12.3); check your own force's notice period.
Before you return
- ✓ Put any part-time or flexible request in writing early.
- ✓ Check your leave balances and when increments fall due.
- ✓ Re-run your budget with the take-home calculator at your new hours.
If you're buying a home around the same time, lenders treat parental leave carefully; see police home loans.
What isn't published yet, and who can confirm it
- SA: we couldn't re-confirm SAPOL's 16 and 20 weeks in the current agreement text, and partner leave amounts aren't captured. The Police Association of South Australia can confirm, and a new agreement is in progress.
- Victoria: the 2025 agreement's parental leave clauses are recorded in our data (cl 147-151), but we couldn't read super terms. The Police Association Victoria and ESSSuper can confirm.
- NSW: whether super is paid on unpaid parental leave for sworn officers. PANSW and your fund can confirm.
- NT: whether the 2025 Consent Agreement changed the 2022 parental leave and super terms. The NT Police Association can confirm.
- Tasmania: whether the State Service's drop to a 40-week qualifying period from 11 May 2026 applies to police. The Police Association of Tasmania can confirm.
Free email alerts
Get told when parental leave changes for your force
The AFP's partner leave rises to 18 weeks in February 2027, new agreements are due in SA, Victoria and the NT, and Parental Leave Pay changes every July. We'll email you what changes and when.
- ✓Parental leave changes in all 8 forces
- ✓New Parental Leave Pay rates each July
Frequently asked questions
How much paid parental leave do police get in Australia?
Primary carers get 14 to 18 weeks of employer-paid leave, depending on the force: 14 weeks in NSW, Queensland, WA and the NT (18 in the NT after 5 years), 16 in Victoria and SA, and 18 in Tasmania and the AFP. Most forces allow up to 52 weeks off in total, the NT up to 3 years and the AFP up to 24 months.
Can police get government Parental Leave Pay as well as employer leave?
Yes. Services Australia says Parental Leave Pay can be taken before, during or after any paid or unpaid employer-funded leave, including annual and long service leave. You still need to meet the work test and the income test. For babies born from 1 July 2026, a family can get up to 130 days (26 weeks).
How much is Parental Leave Pay in 2026-27?
$200.94 a day, or $1004.70 for a 5-day week, for days taken in 2026-27. It's based on the national minimum wage and it's taxable. The rate depends on the financial year you take the days, not the birth date. The full 130 days is worth about $26,122 before tax.
Do police get super while on parental leave?
It depends on the force. Queensland pays 18% super on up to 52 weeks of parental leave, paid or unpaid. The NT pays super for the first 12 months, at double the guarantee rate during the paid primary-carer weeks. WA pays super on 24 weeks of unpaid parental leave. The AFP pays 15.4% on paid leave. Separately, the ATO now pays super on government Parental Leave Pay.
How much partner leave do police get?
It ranges from a week taken from your own leave to 14 paid weeks or more. The AFP gives secondary caregivers 14 weeks' paid leave, rising to 18 in February 2027. Victoria and Tasmania give 4 weeks paid, with more if the partner takes over primary care. Queensland and the NT give 1 week (2 in the NT after 5 years). WA's partner week comes from your own leave or is unpaid.
Does Parental Leave Pay have an income limit?
Yes. Your individual adjusted taxable income in the financial year before the birth or claim (whichever is earlier) must be $186,487 or less for 2025-26, or your family income $386,525 or less. Overtime counts, so senior sergeants and officers with heavy overtime should check.
Can I go back part-time after parental leave?
In NSW the award lets you return part-time until your child reaches school age (cl 25.1.3). AFP members can ask under the agreement's flexible working clause, which has a 'bias towards approving'. Other forces handle it through part-time policies; see our part-time and flexible policing guide for each force's rules.
Can I do a shift while on Parental Leave Pay?
There are no Keeping in Touch days any more. Working an hour or more counts as a working day and you must move that Parental Leave Pay day to another date. Services Australia lists being recalled to duty as a law enforcement officer as an allowable reason to work during your PLP period.
Evidence
Sources and how we checked them
Every figure on this page comes from the sources below, read on 10 October 2026. Pay rates and rules change when new agreements are made, so check the source for the date you're reading this. Where we couldn't confirm something from an official source, the page says so instead of guessing. Spotted an error? Read our corrections policy.
- Services Australia: How much Parental Leave Pay you can get — 130 days from 1 July 2026, daily rate, reserved partner days
- Services Australia: Claiming timeframes for Parental Leave Pay — taking PLP with employer leave; 2-year window
- Services Australia: Meeting the income test
- Services Australia: Work requirements
- Services Australia: If you work a day while getting Parental Leave Pay
- Services Australia: Employer's role in the Paid Parental Leave scheme
- ATO: Paid parental leave superannuation contribution
- NSW award variation of 12 September 2025 (replacement parental leave clauses)
- NSW Government: Paid parental leave (public sector)
- Victoria Police Enterprise Agreement 2025 (AE528554) — cl 147-151
- Queensland Directive 08/24: Paid parental leave — applied to police officers by CA 2025 cl 63
- Queensland Government: Paid super on paid and unpaid parental leave — names QPS; 18% for police officers
- WA Police Force Industrial Agreement 2024 — cl 35
- WA Government media statement: WA Police Officers accept wages policy (13 July 2023) — super on 24 weeks of unpaid parental leave
- Tasmania Police Award (consolidated November 2024) — cl 15.7
- NT Police Force Consent Agreement 2022 — cl 36, including super
- AFP Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027 — cl 61 parental leave, cl 17 super
- South Australia Police Enterprise Agreement 2021
Related guides
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General information, not advice. This guide explains published rules and rates. It doesn't consider your personal circumstances and isn't financial, legal, tax or credit advice. Confirm anything you rely on with your force, your police association, the ATO or a licensed professional.