As far as I can tell, statutory maternity rights in Oz are really bad. We did some reading up on this as would like to start a family so it will affect us. I think some companies are more progressive though. My logic tells me that the global organisations (particularly paranoid American ones) might have global policies on such things and therefore might be more amenable to reasonable maternity leave and rights.
This is one thing that we are really lucky with in the UK. We have even considered starting a family here and then going, just to get the benefits (work, not state before I get slated), but we probably won't.
If I can find more concrete information when I go home (I think it was in a Living in Oz book), I will re-post. Basically though, my advice would be to expect little and anything else is a bonus.
Cannot comment much on the medical system other than I believe you will need to have private medical insurance - not necessarily for pregnancy, but for everything. I am still trying to work this one out myself.
Susie
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Brisbane bound!
TRA requested 02-Jan-07, approved 02-Mar-07
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Police checks requested 02-Jul-07, received 08-Aug-07, Medicals done 14-Sep-07, Case Officer: 20-Sep-07, Medicals approved by LCU 10-Nov-07,
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I don't know about maternity leave in Oz. It might vary from one company to the next. In the UK, it is not possible for an employee to agree to contract out of statutory maternity leave rights, but it may be possible in Oz - I don't know. This is due to something called WorkChoices, which have proved to be very unpopular and the reecently-defeated ex-Goverment is pinning the blame for its deat on Saturday firmly on WorkChoices. There is more to it than that, but this is what they are claiming.
Having said that, though, if you live somewhere where business is booming and your skills are in demand, if you do ot like the deal that one company offeres you just decline the job and move on to the next employer, surely?
With regard to medical expenses, there is a reciprocal health care agreement between the UK and Oz. The effect of this is that as a temporary resident, you would be covered by Medicare for any "necessary" medical treatment whilst in Oz. That includes all teh antenatal stuff, delivery and post natal care. The baby would be born in a public hospital and delivered by whichever doctor is on duty at the time.
However, the public hositals in Oz are palaces compared to NHS hospitals in teh UK. They are spotlessly clean, for a start. Since they have a much lower throughput of patients than in overcrowded Britain, they can afford to treat a mother far better than they do here.
In the Wanted Downunder series last year one of the ladies who took part was a midwife. She was taken to one of the public hospitals in Sydney and shown round for a day. Apparently in her own HHS hozzy in the UK, they delliver 20,000 babies a year. The Australian midwife was horrified. She said that in her own hosppital, they are only called upon to deliver 4,000 babies a year. They keep the mother in hospital for longer than in the UK, so that she can rest properly. It all seemed very calm , un-hurried and well-organised.
If you have private medical insurance with maternity cover, then you get 5 star treatment in a private hospital. I was there when my sister's second child was born privately. It was more like a hotel than a hospital! However, some policies won't shell out for anything within the first year of buying the policy, so you'd need to watch that.
I think there may be a tax-perk in having rivate medical insurance if you are on a temporary visa. However, I'm useless on tax. I'll try to get you some advice on this point.
We're making our plans to try and come to Oz but have a quick question.
I think initially I'll be on a temporary work visa. We'll both be working permanent jobs.
Q: Does anyone know if my partner got pregnant, would she be entitled to maternity leave in Oz?
Q: How does the medical system work? would we need hefty insurance?
Any help or advice will be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
G'day & welcome
A1: There is no statutory paid maternity leave anywhere in Australia. Rules on unpaid maternity vary deom state to state. Here in WA, for people with more than 12 months continuos work for an employer, there is statutory unpaid maternity leave of up to 52 weeks. However paid maternity leave is enirely at an employers discretion and it would entirely depend upon what your partner negotiated in her employment contract. Some companies may allow her to take unpaid leave, other companies may require her to resign if she wanted more than a couple of weeks absence. As I said, it all depends upon the employment contract she negotiates and agrees too. Read the fine print.
Aussie citizens and people on permanent visas are eligible for a reasonably large cash lump sum as well as ongoing family tax benefits from the Commonwealth government. Folks on temporary visas get nothing from the government.
A2: The medical health system is a combination of government and private hospitals. Under a reciprocal health agreement with the UK you would be eligible for treatment in a public ward in a public hospital using the staff doctors. The standard of these hospitals and the standard of treatment is well in excess of anything you're likely to see from the NHS in the UK. Seeing a GP can vary between being free and costing upto $75 per visit. Medicare will refund some of the costs but it rarely covers more than two thirds of the cost. Private Health insurance will usually cover you to have a single room in a private hospital with the doctors of your choice. Private health insurance can not cover the extra costs associated with seeing GP's but it can cover some of the costs of other health servives prior to and after birth. There are many different companies providing many different levels of health insurance policy. Choose a policy carefully to suit your own needs.
Some (most) employment contracts for temp residents on a 457 visa require the individual to take out health insurance. Health insurance also costs more for temporary visa holders, at least double what it costs permanent residents. Allow at least $450/month. The cost of health insurance is tax deductible. The health insurance will have exclusion periods and in order to be able to claim for most pregnancy costs, you will need to have had the insurance in place for a variable qualifying period before your partner gets pregnant. The qualifying period varies from policy to policy and company to company.
So, in short, there is between very little and no government support or assistance for people on temporary residents. The level of government assistance is substantial for permant residents and citizens. It is very rare to have an employer that provides any financial support for pregnancy or child support, but as said earlier - read your employment contract.
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I hope that helps.
Bob in Bull Creek
Grumpy old man and Photographer
Last edited by BullcreekBob; 28-11-2007 at 06:06 AM.
Guys, thanks ever so much for your time in replying. It's been really helpful.
It seems the low-down is that we need to come out and get work, and that I need to be able to support both of us on my wage alone should we get preggers.
..just wanted to say welcome to PIO..i can't advise you on your questions but i'm sure someone will be able to help..good luck!
