Paid Maternity Leave for Any Melbourne Nurses???

[chumundirn]

Just moved to Melbourne from QLD and had my first interview today. When I was told about staff benifits, maternity leave was described as an unpaid 12 month leave. I was quiet surprised as everywhere I've worked before offered a paid maternity leave. I have been given the impression that most hospitals in Melbourne do not offer paid maternity...Is this true? Does anyone know of any hospitals that do offer paid matternity leave here in Melbourne?

Thanks for your time and hope you are all having a nice afternoon.

[joannep]

Hi,

You don't say whether you are working in the public sector or the private sector so I think your best bet would be to check with the ANF vic branch to find out what is relevant for your workplace.

http://www.anfvic.asn.au/

[chumundirn]

Thanks for your response Joanne. I will check the link you sent me. I am actually open to working in either the public or private and am just in the process of comparing different hospitals and what will suit me best. I am actually an Australian citizen but from overseas (San Francisco) and have only worked at a private hospital in QLD so I am new to the Victorian nursing situation. Agian, thank you for your info, I appreciate it.

[talaxandra]

In Victorian public hospitals you're entitled to 10 weeks paid maternity leave (from 1 October 2008), and a total of twelve months leave, the remainder unpaid. In private hospitals conditions vary from workplace to workplace. I hope that helps, and I hope you enjoy your move to Marvellous Melbourne!