The University is committed to supporting employees to balance their employment and their family responsibilities. Examples of existing policy include parental leave and carer's leave. This new policy aims to complement these family friendly work practices, by providing the opportunity for staff to access paid sick leave to attend pre-natal requirements. The University's enterprise agreements already provide an entitlement to leave for employees to attend compulsory interviews or examination as part of the adoption procedure.

• It is expected that in most circumstances employees will arrange pre-natal classes outside work hours.
• An employee who is expecting the birth of a child, or an employee whose spouse/partner is expecting the birth of a child, is entitled to use up to three single days of available sick leave as pre-natal leave to attend pre-natal appointments such as ultrasounds and birthing classes.
• Prior to any pre-natal leave absence, the employee shall give three days notice to the relevant supervisor advising of the intention to take leave, the reason for taking such leave and the estimated length of absence. An absence should normally not exceed one day.
• If pre-natal leave in excess of three single days is required, the employee must use other forms of leave, such as recreation leave, or to take accrued flex-time or time off in lieu of overtime.
• Applications for pre-natal leave should be made as sick leave with an appropriate note indicating that the absence was due to pre-natal requirements.

For further information staff should contact the Industrial Relations Advisory Unit on 9385 1710.