New Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave

From 1 February 2023 employees will be entitled to 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave in a 12-month period. Employers should ensure they have the appropriate internal systems to administer this new leave entitlement.

Family and domestic violence is a private and very personal issue that affects a person’s ability to lead a productive life with consequences for not only the immediate victim but also children, families and the community.

Key points

Full-time, part-time and casual employees will be able to access 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave in a 12-month period. It won’t be pro-rated for part-time or casual employees.
The full 10-day leave entitlement will be available upfront. It won’t accumulate from year to year if it’s not used.
The leave will be available from:
- 1 February 2023, for employees of non-small business employers (employers with 15 or more employees on 1 February 2023)
- 1 August 2023, for employees of small business employers (employers with less than 15 employees on 1 February 2023).
From 1 February 2023, there are rules about information that must not be included on an employee’s pay slip relating to paid family and domestic violence leave.
Employees will continue to be entitled to 5 days of unpaid family and domestic violence leave until they can access the new paid entitlement.
The new leave will be independently reviewed after 12 months to consider the impacts on small businesses, sole traders and people experiencing family and domestic violence.