Under Pressure - ANF Survey Reveals Urgent Need For Paid Parental Leave Scheme, Australia

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Also Included In: Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Article Date: 02 Sep 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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The absence of a national system of paid maternity leave is creating financial pressures that are forcing nurses and midwives back to work too soon after having a child, the results of an Australian Nursing Federation maternity leave survey show. Published in the Australian Nursing Journal, the survey of around 1,500 Australian nurses and midwives, revealed a staggering 68% of respondents returned to work for financial reasons, including the end of their paid leave.

The survey also showed that nurses and midwives returning to work earlier than otherwise intended were less able to continue breastfeeding and had difficulty establishing healthy family relationships.

One nurse commented: "I was still breastfeeding on my return to work and had to start expressing. Unfortunately that only lasted a couple of weeks as I couldn't get the time during work to express. If I had longer maternity leave I definitely would have continued to breastfeed for as long as possible".

Ged Kearney, ANF Federal Secretary said the survey results highlight the urgent need for the introduction of a universal system of paid maternity, paternity and parental leave.

"The survey clearly demonstrates that the lack of an adequate paid maternity leave scheme is having a detrimental effect on women, their partners and their newborn babies. Nurses and midwives reported being under great financial strain, unable to breastfeed or bond properly with their babies and also facing relationship problems as a result of having to return to work too early. This should not be happening in a prosperous nation like Australia," Ms Kearney said.

The ANF said the introduction of a comprehensive scheme for paid leave entitlements for the purpose of creating or building a family was long overdue.

"We know that Australia is only one of two countries in the OECD (the other being the USA) with no universal paid scheme for new parents. It is essential that the Labor Government act quickly to remedy this outrageous situation."

The survey results will help to inform the ANF response to the Productivity Commission's draft report expected to be released late September.

The ANF maternity, paternity and parental leave survey report is available here.

The ANF, representing nearly 160,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses and midwives in Australia.

Australian Nursing Federation