Single mothers viewed the minimum wage rate of paid parental leave as fair. They responded positively to the new flexible design and see this as a good way to support a more gradual transition back to the workplace.

I get where they come from doing it at minimum wage and I think that’s … fair, and I don’t think it should be indexed on anyone’s income ... I don’t think anyone, because they own more, they should then get more when they’re off. So, I think doing it on minimum wage is a fair way to do it. But I’m never going to complain if they want to give us more. (Nora, single mother, middle income)

Access to early childhood education and care is the most important determinant of return-to- work for single mothers who expressed concern about limited options and waitlists for daycare. For example, one mother returned to work earlier than planned when a daycare spot became available, as she was worried the spot would be filled.

I was going to take the 12 months off, that was my original plan, but then once I got offered the spot at daycare, I didn’t really want to pass it up because if I didn’t take it, I probably wouldn’t have got one. (Samantha, single mother, low income)

Single mothers worried about ‘plugging the gaps’ before and after childcare to accommodate their work hours and discussed the importance of flexible schedules and support from family and friends to coordinate drop offs and pickups. This was a particular concern for single mothers with shift work schedules that do not align with the opening and closing hours of early childhood education and care centres.

I did a little bit of shift work after [having my son], but it's a 7 am start or a night duty. So, you’re always finding someone else to plug the gaps before and after childcare. So, I don’t want a role where I have to ask them every single time I go to work, “Can you do drop off or can you do pickup?” One or the other’s fine, but not every week. (Nora, single mother, middle income)