QTAD Q&A
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 124 No 4, 31 May 2019, page no. 27
I have been acting as head of department since the beginning of the year and am due to start maternity leave in June. Do I receive payment of maternity leave at the higher rate?
Your maternity leave should be paid at the higher rate in accordance with the Public Service Directive on Higher Duties:
13. Payment of higher duties amount during recreation leave, long service leave and paid parental leave
13.1 An employee on higher duties who takes recreation leave, long service leave or paid parental leave is entitled to be paid for the full period of such leave at the higher duties rate being paid to the employee immediately before the employee takes the leave. This will be the case even where the higher duties arrangement ceases on the last day of duty prior to the leave commencing, or at any point during the leave period.
I am returning to work in term three in a part time capacity after a period of parental leave with my first child. How is maternity leave calculated for my next child? Do I have to be back for 12 months before being eligible again?
There is no requirement for you to be back at work for 12 months before being eligible for another round of paid maternity leave, as your service has not been broken.
With regard to payment, the department has confirmed that paid maternity leave will be paid as follows.
If the employee worked full-time prior to proceeding on maternity leave, the maternity leave is paid at full-time.
If the employee worked part-time prior to proceeding on maternity leave, the full-time equivalent (FTE) is pro-rated over the previous 12 working months (365 days). Paid leave is considered to be working.
If an employee is on unpaid leave prior to proceeding on paid maternity leave and the employee’s last period of work was full-time, the paid maternity leave is paid at full-time.
If an employee is on unpaid leave prior to proceeding on paid maternity leave but has worked various fractions on contracts during that leave, the full-time equivalent (FTE) is pro-rated over the previous 12 working months (365 days).