Right to paid reproductive health leave for national system employees

Fair Work Amendment (Paid Reproductive Health Leave and Flexible Work Arrangements) Bill 2025

Private Member's Bill

1st House

2nd House

Law

Introduced by: Larissa Waters (GRN)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

National system employees can take 12 days of paid reproductive health leave every 12 months; this includes part-time and casual staff.
Employees can use this leave for reproductive health conditions; this includes menopause, perimenopause, endometriosis, and PCOS.
The leave can also be used for fertility treatments; this includes IVF.
Employees can use the leave for preventative screenings; this includes breast and prostate screening.
Employers must pay the employee at their full rate of pay while they are on this leave.
Employees experiencing menopause or perimenopause symptoms can now request flexible work arrangements.
The Fair Work Commission can change existing enterprise agreements to make them consistent with these new leave entitlements.
Entities reporting under the Workplace Gender Equality Instrument must now report on their policies to support employees experiencing menopause or perimenopause.

News articles and press releases