Presents a comparative analysis of the Australian parental leave system and offers recommendations for reform, applying various feminist theories and drawing on data from OECD countries. This book opens new perspectives on parental leave in Australia with recommendations for reform based on the legislation of three comparable OECD countries and the latest scientific health recommendations by WHO.

This book closely examines the current parental leave provisions in Australia, both paid and unpaid, provided by both the government and private sector. In order to provide a comprehensive analysis of the Australian parental leave system, a comparison is made between the Australian provisions and those of Canada, Germany and Sweden. Applying various feminist theories to the analysis, recommendations for reform are identified to address the gaps found in the current system.