Skip to content

SA parental leave

Parental leave for South Australian teachers in 2026

SA public school teachers get 16 weeks' paid parental leave, or 20 with 5 years' service, plus 26 weeks of government PPL for births from 1 July 2026.

✓ Fact-checked against official sources Updated 16 October 2026 3 min read

Employer paid

16 weeks

Government PPL

26 weeks

Super on PPL

12%

Employer super

12%

On this page (6 sections)
  1. Paid leave at a glance
  2. What the SA agreement gives you
  3. Add the government's 26 weeks
  4. Super and pay while you're away
  5. Coming back part-time
  6. FAQs

The short answer

SA government teachers get 16 weeks' paid primary carer leave after 12 months' service, or 20 weeks with 5 or more years in the SA public sector, at ordinary pay including country zone allowances. For births from 1 July 2026 you can also claim 26 weeks of government Parental Leave Pay, with 12% super paid by the ATO.

South Australia's teacher parental leave sits in clause 4.5.4 of the 2024 enterprise agreement. It is generous by national standards, and it stacks on top of the Commonwealth scheme rather than replacing it.

16 weeks' paid primary carer leave after 12 months' continuous service, or 20 weeks with 5+ years in the SA public sector (EA cl. 4.5.4), on top of government Paid Parental Leave. Paid and unpaid leave combined up to 104 weeks, paid at the ordinary rate including country zone payments. Partner leave: up to 5 working days from sick leave. Part-time return until the child's second birthday.

SalaryFull payGross valueHalf payGross value
Step 1 ($84,971)16 weeks$26,14532 weeks$26,145
Step 9 ($123,236)16 weeks$37,91932 weeks$37,919

Employer-paid leave only, gross, at current rates. Government Parental Leave Pay (26 weeks for births from 1 July 2026) is paid on top by Services Australia, subject to its work and income tests.

What the SA agreement gives you

SA government teacher parental leave (EA 2024)
EntitlementWhat you get
Paid primary carer leave, 12 months' continuous service16 weeks at ordinary pay
Paid primary carer leave, 5+ years in the SA public sector20 weeks at ordinary pay
Country incentive zone allowanceKeeps being paid during paid leave
Total paid and unpaid leaveUp to 104 weeks (2 years)
Paid partner leaveUp to 5 working days, from your sick leave balance
Return to workRight to return part-time until the child's second birthday

SAET EA 2024 cl 4.5–4.8.

Add the government's 26 weeks

For babies born or adopted on or after 1 July 2026, the federal Paid Parental Leave scheme pays up to 26 weeks (130 days) of Parental Leave Pay at the national minimum wage, reported as about $1,004.70 a week. The ATO also pays 12% super on it into your fund. The individual income test is $186,487, assessed on your 2025–26 income, so almost every classroom teacher qualifies.

Worked example

A Step 4 teacher ($98,113) having a baby in 2027

16 weeks' SA paid leave (12 months to 5 years' service)
about $30,189 gross
or 20 weeks' SA paid leave (5+ years)
about $37,736 gross
26 weeks' government Parental Leave Pay
about $26,122 gross
Super on government PPL (paid by the ATO)
about $3,135
Paid weeks available in total Up to 42 or 46 weeks

SA leave worked out as salary ÷ 52 × weeks. PPL weekly rate is as reported and should be confirmed with Services Australia. All amounts are taxable.

Free calculator

Parental leave pay calculator

Plan how SA paid leave, PPL and unpaid leave combine week by week.

Plan my leave

Super and pay while you're away

  • The ATO pays 12% super on government Parental Leave Pay, as a yearly lump sum after the financial year ends.
  • Ask DfE payroll whether employer super continues on your paid SA parental leave, and note that unpaid weeks earn no super.
  • Pay rises that happen while you are on leave apply to your rate when you come back.
  • If you salary sacrifice, check whether it pauses automatically during unpaid leave.

Coming back part-time

You can return part-time until your child turns two. Part-time teachers are paid pro rata on the same step, and progression is based on service, so check with HR how part-time years count toward your next increment. See returning to teaching after parental leave and the part-time teacher pay calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How much paid parental leave do SA teachers get?
SA government teachers get 16 weeks' paid primary carer leave after 12 months' continuous service, or 20 weeks with 5 or more years in the SA public sector. It is paid at ordinary pay, including country zone allowances.
Can SA teachers get government Parental Leave Pay as well?
Yes, the SA leave is in addition to the Commonwealth scheme. For births from 1 July 2026 that is up to 26 weeks of Parental Leave Pay.
Is super paid on parental leave?
The ATO pays 12% super on government Parental Leave Pay for babies born on or after 1 July 2025. Ask DfE payroll how employer super is handled on your paid SA leave.
How long can I take off in total?
Paid and unpaid parental leave together can run up to 104 weeks, or two years, under the SA agreement.
What do partners get?
Partners get up to 5 working days of paid leave, drawn from their sick leave balance, and can also claim their share of government PPL.
Can I go back part-time after parental leave?
Yes, SA teachers have a right to return part-time until the child's second birthday.

Sources we checked · last verified 16 October 2026

  1. 1.SAET: South Australian School and Preschool Education Staff Enterprise Agreement 2024 (ET-24-00640)
  2. 2.SA DfE: School teachers pay rates, effective 08/05/2026 (PDF)
  3. 3.SA DfE: Pay rates, forms for new employees and enterprise agreements
  4. 4.TRB SA: Payment of registration fees
  5. 5.AEU SA: EA27 campaign next phase (Oct 2026)
  6. 6.IEU SA: Same Work, Different Pay (Mar 2026)
  7. 7.IEU SA: Catholic EB24 – more than just numbers (Aug 2026)

About this page

Written and fact-checked by the TeacherPay AU editorial team against the enterprise agreements, awards and official pages listed in the sources. It is general information, not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it, usually within a day. See our editorial policy and how we calculate.