2023 has meant steps forward in increasing access to Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave – a right of which union members have tirelessly campaigned for a decade.
In great news, more workers employed under Fair Work have access to 10 days paid leave. From 1 February this leave will now come into effect for business with 15 or more employees.
Find out more about this entitlement here.
Workers who are employed in a business with less than 15 employees, this leave will come into force on 1 August 2023.
Public Sector Members: Family Violence Leave
This year’s Public Sector Unions Wages Agreement, union members doubled paid Family Violence Leave to 20 Days per personal leave year.
This is a vital, life changing and possibly lifesaving entitlement. It takes leave to leave.
Leaving a relationship and a home is complex, expensive, and with family violence in the picture, it is also a particularly risky time. We hope this improvement to Family Violence Leave means many women and children who need to can escape unsafe situations.
Work under Fair Work? Here’s what your Agreement says about Family Violence Leave.
TasWater
An employee experiencing family violence will have access to 10 days per year of paid special leave for the purpose of attending to medical appointments, legal proceedings, housing matters, financial matters, emergency child care and other activities related to family violence. This leave will be in addition to existing leave entitlements and may be taken as consecutive or single days or as a fraction of a day and can be taken without prior approval.
Ahpra
The parties acknowledge that an Employee who is experiencing domestic or relationship violence (actual or threatened) can make reasonable use of, and AHPRA will make reasonable access to, existing leave and flexible and safe working arrangements.
Sustainable Timber
An employee experiencing Family Violence will have access to ten (10) days per year of paid special leave for medical appointments, legal proceedings and other activities related to Family Violence (this leave is not cumulative but if the leave is exhausted consideration will be given to providing additional leave). This leave will be in addition to existing leave entitlements and may be taken as consecutive or single days or as a fraction of a day and can be taken without prior approval.
UTas
An Employee may access up to ten (10) days of paid family violence leave per year. An Employee who requires additional family violence leave may utilise their personal / carer’s leave accrual. Family violence leave is not cumulative from year to year.
