Dad and Partner Pay (DAPP)

Written on the 29th of June 2012 by Gavin Hanrahan & Andrew Bull

New law provides Dads and Partners with paid leave…

Fathers of new babies can now look forward to payment of two weeks’ leave following the passing of legislation in federal parliament on 28 June 2012.

The Paid Parental Leave Act 2010 will now include a payment called ‘Dad and Partner Pay’ (‘DAPP’) - a payment for eligible working fathers or partners including adopting parents and parents in same sex couples.

DAPP will provide financial support to fathers or partners of new babies to stay at home for two weeks with a baby born or adopted after 1 January 2013. The leave can be taken anytime in the first year after the birth or adoption of the child.

The DAPP payment is government-funded and will consist of 2 week’s pay paid at the National Minimum Wage ($606.00 per week gross). Unlike the government-funded paid parental leave payment, DAPP will be paid directly to those eligible by the Department of Human Services and not via employers.

A dad or partner may take the leave at the same time as the mother is taking paid parental leave. However, the leave cannot be taken at the same time the employee is taking other paid leave. A family will also be able to receive DAPP either on its own or in addition to other family payments such as the Baby Bonus and Family Tax Benefit.

The payment will be available to full-time, part-time, casual, seasonal, contract and self-employed workers who have worked at least 330 hours in 10 of the 13 months before the birth of their baby and who earned $150,000 or less in the previous financial year.

For further information on DAPP payment please call our Workplace Relations & HR Services team on 1800 994 279 or email us. A member of our team will endeavour to respond to your enquiry within 24 hours.