Parents see a benefit in being able to take concurrent leave (leave at the same time) after the initial 4 weeks of a baby’s birth – particularly when they have a second child – and liked the idea of choosing when they took concurrent leave, beyond the 4 weeks reserved concurrent period.

Parents say that overlapping leave at the same time helps to establish couples as a ‘team’ where they are supporting each other and taking joint ownership of the care. Fathers said time together beyond the first 4 weeks was important to understand and appreciate the daily caring tasks and stresses faced by new mothers over the 18 week leave period and for male partners to take ownership of these responsibilities. This is reported to be beneficial to the couple’s relationship and family life.

[T]he number of weeks of leave is quite big. 18 weeks is quite a lot. I think more of it could be together because of that. And particularly from the male perspective, I think it’s good for men to understand all those things I was just saying about what their partner did and my friends who’ve had leave at the same time… Learning that stuff they just never thought of or never realised and appreciating their partner more, which is a really positive thing. (Peter, middle income)

Some parents also thought concurrent leave should be extended in cases where a baby requires neonatal medical attention and the first weeks of a child’s life are spent in hospital, rather than at home. Other couples noted that in the unique context of COVID-19 lockdowns, having a longer concurrent leave period was beneficial because friends and family were unable to visit and offer support. Lack of local family support is a particular issue for many families with parents living overseas.

There should be something where dads can extend it if their child is in neonatal intensive care or if the mother is unwell, there should be something there for that. Because I do really feel sad for the parents who never get to have their bubble at home where they’ve got a new baby and they’re all settling in. It’s a really, really important time. And if those first 2 weeks are spent in hospital or longer [in] the hospital, that’s a really sad thing to miss. (Emily, high income)

It's really hard, I feel like our experience is a bit skewed because it was during the middle of lockdown, pandemic, full-blown COVID. No one could come in, no one could go out. So, both being at home, like we worked in jobs that still were ongoing during the pandemic. Our workplace didn’t stop. We were essential workers. So, work didn’t stop. So being able to be at home [together] was a blessing, it was great for us. (Amy, same sex couple)