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Having a baby in Australia: a checklist for antenatal care, parental leave, Parental Leave Pay, Family Tax Benefit and child care

Based on 6 verified guidesLast verified Official pages checked daily

If you have Medicare, antenatal care and birth in a public hospital are covered; start with a GP referral. Employees can take unpaid parental leave, and eligible parents can get the government's Parental Leave Pay. After the birth, claim Family Tax Benefit through myGov, and apply for the Child Care Subsidy when your child starts child care. Temporary visa families without Medicare should check their insurance waiting periods first. Each step links to a verified guide and the official source.

I'm pregnant. Who do I see first?

  1. Seeing a GP: bulk billing, costs and Medicare benefits

    See a GP first, who refers you to a public hospital maternity service; if unsure, call the free health line.

    • How long a specialist referral lasts: GPs are the main source of referrals. A GP referral is normally valid for 12 months (the doctor can also write 3, 6 or 18 months, or indefinite), counted from your first visit to the specialist. A referral from one specialist to another is valid for only 3 months↗
    • healthdirect helpline: 1800 022 222, free (calls from mobiles may cost). Registered nurses answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and help you decide whether to see a GP, care for yourself at home or go to emergency. In Victoria the service is called NURSE-ON-CALL↗
    • Interpreters: If English is not your first language and you need an interpreter, call TIS National on 131 450 and ask to be connected to healthdirect↗

  2. Enrolling in Medicare: who is eligible and how to apply

    With Medicare, antenatal care and birth as a public patient cost nothing; without Medicare, check your insurance.

    • What Medicare covers: Emergency care, surgery, in-hospital medicines and follow-up treatment as a public patient in a public hospital; medical services from GPs and specialists, including telehealth; tests, imaging and scans; and PBS prescription medicines↗
    • Insurance for temporary visas: Student visas require you to hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Work visas such as the 482 and 485 require you to hold Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) that meets the visa conditions↗
    • Hospital costs without Medicare: Overseas visitors in a public hospital generally pay more than A$1,000 a day, so the government advises buying the highest level of hospital cover you can↗

What leave can I take?

  1. Leave entitlements: annual, sick, public holidays and parental leave

    After 12 months with the same employer you can take unpaid parental leave, part of it flexibly.

    • Unpaid parental leave: Only for employees who have worked for the same employer for at least 12 months of continuous service (including casuals who have worked regularly and systematically for 12 months). Each parent can take up to 12 months; with the employer's agreement this can be extended to a total of 24 months. Your job is protected while you are away↗
    • Flexible parental leave days: Part of the 12 months of unpaid parental leave can be taken as separate flexible days: up to 120 days for children born or adopted between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026, and up to 130 days for children born or adopted on or after 1 July 2026↗

  2. Parental Leave Pay (Paid Parental Leave scheme)

    Parents who meet the work, income and residence tests can get the government's Parental Leave Pay, paid per day, with some days reserved for the partner.

    • Daily rate (2026–27 financial year): A$200.94 a day before tax, which is A$1,004.70 a week based on a 5-day week. It is set from the weekly national minimum wage and usually changes on 1 July each year. You are paid the rate for the financial year in which you receive it, not the year your child was born↗
    • Maximum days per family: Children born or adopted from 1 July 2024: 110 days (22 weeks); from 1 July 2025: 120 days (24 weeks); from 1 July 2026: 130 days (26 weeks), based on a 5-day week↗
    • Days reserved for your partner: If you have a partner, some days can only be used by your partner: 10 days for children born from 1 July 2024; 15 days from 1 July 2025; 20 days from 1 July 2026. The reserved days still apply even if only one parent is eligible↗
    • Work test: In the 13 months (392 days) before the birth or adoption, you worked for 10 months (295 days), with at least 330 hours in those 10 months (about one day a week), and no gap of more than 12 weeks between any two working days. Paid leave, work for more than one employer and self-employment all count↗
    • Income test: Based on your adjusted taxable income in the financial year before the birth or adoption, or before your claim, whichever is earlier. Individual limit: A$186,487 or less for 2025–26 (A$180,007 for 2024–25). If you are over the individual limit, you can use the family income test: you and your partner together A$386,525 or less for 2025–26 (A$373,094 for 2024–25). Single parents are assessed under the family limit↗
    • Residence rules: You live in Australia and are an Australian citizen, or hold a permanent visa, a Special Category visa, or a specific temporary visa (a partner provisional visa or a temporary protection visa). You must meet this on the day of the birth or adoption and every day you get PLP. If you claim before the birth, you must also meet it on the day you claim↗
    • Claiming time limits: You can claim up to 3 months before the due date or adoption date. The first parent to claim must do so within 52 weeks of the birth or adoption; other parents within 2 years. To be paid from the day of birth, submit your claim and the proof of birth within 14 weeks (100 days) of the birth. All days must be used within 2 years of the birth or adoption↗

What do I do after the birth?

  1. Family Tax Benefit (FTB)

    Claim Family Tax Benefit through Centrelink in myGov; the amount depends on the child's age and family income, and you must meet the residence rules.

    • Basic conditions: You have a dependent child aged 15 or under, or a child aged 16–19 who meets study requirements; you care for the child at least 35% of the time; and you pass the income test and residence rules↗
    • Part A maximum rate per child per fortnight (2026–27 financial year): Aged 0–12: A$235.48; aged 13–15: A$306.46; aged 16–19 and meeting study requirements: A$306.46↗
    • Part A income test (2026–27 financial year): You get the maximum rate if your family's adjusted taxable income is A$69,131 or less. Between A$69,131 and A$123,078, the payment reduces by 20 cents for every dollar over, down to the base rate. Above A$123,078, it reduces by 30 cents for every dollar over, until it reaches zero↗
    • Residence rules: On the day you claim, you and your child must live in Australia. You must be an Australian citizen, hold a permanent visa, a Special Category visa, or one of the specific temporary visas listed on the Services Australia website (a partner provisional visa or a temporary protection type visa)↗
    • Newly arrived resident's waiting period: If you are a new Australian resident, you usually wait 1 year for Part A (there are exemptions). There is no waiting period for Part B↗

  2. Enrolling in Medicare: who is eligible and how to apply

    Add the newborn to your Medicare card; the whole family can be on one enrolment.

    • Enrolling online and as a family: To enrol online you must live in Australia, have a valid passport or ImmiCard and, if you are not an Australian citizen, have valid visa information from the Department of Home Affairs. You can enrol yourself or your whole family in myGov and track progress there. For children under 15 you provide their details and identity documents. Family members aged 15 and over need your application number and submit their own details through their own myGov account↗

Is there help with child care costs?

  1. Child Care Subsidy (CCS)

    Families using approved child care can get the Child Care Subsidy, with a percentage based on family income and a guaranteed number of subsidised hours per fortnight.

    • Basic conditions: You or your partner care for the child at least 2 nights per fortnight (or 14% of the time); you are responsible for paying the fees for approved child care; you meet the residence rules; and your child is 13 or under and not in secondary school (with some exceptions) and meets the immunisation requirements↗
    • Subsidy percentage by family income (2026–27 financial year): A$0 to A$88,520: 90%. Over A$88,520 and under A$538,520: starts at 90% and goes down by 1% for every A$5,000 of extra income. A$538,520 or more: 0%↗
    • Subsidised hours per fortnight (from 5 January 2026): If you and your partner each do 48 hours or less of recognised participation per fortnight: 72 hours. If you do more than 48 hours, or have a valid exemption: 100 hours. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children: 100 hours. This is per child↗
    • Residence rules: On the day you claim, you or your partner must live in Australia and be an Australian citizen, hold a permanent visa, a Special Category visa, or a specific temporary visa (a partner provisional visa or a temporary protection type visa). There are other exceptions, such as family members of PALM scheme subclass 403 visa holders, students sponsored by the Australian Government to study in Australia, and hardship or special circumstances↗

Common questions

How much does it cost to have a baby in Australia?

With Medicare, a public hospital birth as a public patient costs nothing; without Medicare, hospital costs are high and you rely on insurance. What Medicare covers: Emergency care, surgery, in-hospital medicines and follow-up treatment as a public patient in a public hospital; medical services from GPs and specialists, including telehealth; tests, imaging and scans; and PBS prescription medicines. Hospital costs without Medicare: Overseas visitors in a public hospital generally pay more than A$1,000 a day, so the government advises buying the highest level of hospital cover you can.

How long is parental leave in Australia, and is it paid?

Employer parental leave is unpaid; eligible parents can get the government's Parental Leave Pay. Unpaid parental leave: Only for employees who have worked for the same employer for at least 12 months of continuous service (including casuals who have worked regularly and systematically for 12 months). Each parent can take up to 12 months; with the employer's agreement this can be extended to a total of 24 months. Your job is protected while you are away. Maximum days per family: Children born or adopted from 1 July 2024: 110 days (22 weeks); from 1 July 2025: 120 days (24 weeks); from 1 July 2026: 130 days (26 weeks), based on a 5-day week. Daily rate (2026–27 financial year): A$200.94 a day before tax, which is A$1,004.70 a week based on a 5-day week. It is set from the weekly national minimum wage and usually changes on 1 July each year. You are paid the rate for the financial year in which you receive it, not the year your child was born.

Who can get Parental Leave Pay?

You must meet the work test, the income test and the residence rules. Work test: In the 13 months (392 days) before the birth or adoption, you worked for 10 months (295 days), with at least 330 hours in those 10 months (about one day a week), and no gap of more than 12 weeks between any two working days. Paid leave, work for more than one employer and self-employment all count. Income test: Based on your adjusted taxable income in the financial year before the birth or adoption, or before your claim, whichever is earlier. Individual limit: A$186,487 or less for 2025–26 (A$180,007 for 2024–25). If you are over the individual limit, you can use the family income test: you and your partner together A$386,525 or less for 2025–26 (A$373,094 for 2024–25). Single parents are assessed under the family limit. Residence rules: You live in Australia and are an Australian citizen, or hold a permanent visa, a Special Category visa, or a specific temporary visa (a partner provisional visa or a temporary protection visa). You must meet this on the day of the birth or adoption and every day you get PLP. If you claim before the birth, you must also meet it on the day you claim.

How do I claim Family Tax Benefit, and how much is it?

Claim through Centrelink in myGov; the amount depends on the child's age and your family income. Basic conditions: You have a dependent child aged 15 or under, or a child aged 16–19 who meets study requirements; you care for the child at least 35% of the time; and you pass the income test and residence rules. Part A maximum rate per child per fortnight (2026–27 financial year): Aged 0–12: A$235.48; aged 13–15: A$306.46; aged 16–19 and meeting study requirements: A$306.46. Part A income test (2026–27 financial year): You get the maximum rate if your family's adjusted taxable income is A$69,131 or less. Between A$69,131 and A$123,078, the payment reduces by 20 cents for every dollar over, down to the base rate. Above A$123,078, it reduces by 30 cents for every dollar over, until it reaches zero.

Can families on a temporary visa get Family Tax Benefit?

Usually not; you must meet the residence rules. Residence rules: On the day you claim, you and your child must live in Australia. You must be an Australian citizen, hold a permanent visa, a Special Category visa, or one of the specific temporary visas listed on the Services Australia website (a partner provisional visa or a temporary protection type visa). Newly arrived resident's waiting period: If you are a new Australian resident, you usually wait 1 year for Part A (there are exemptions). There is no waiting period for Part B.

How much Child Care Subsidy can I get?

The percentage depends on family income, with a guaranteed number of subsidised hours per fortnight. Subsidy percentage by family income (2026–27 financial year): A$0 to A$88,520: 90%. Over A$88,520 and under A$538,520: starts at 90% and goes down by 1% for every A$5,000 of extra income. A$538,520 or more: 0%. Subsidised hours per fortnight (from 5 January 2026): If you and your partner each do 48 hours or less of recognised participation per fortnight: 72 hours. If you do more than 48 hours, or have a valid exemption: 100 hours. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children: 100 hours. This is per child.

Answers are based on the verified content of this page — the official source always prevails.

Which guides and official sources is this based on?

Seeing a GP: bulk billing, costs and Medicare benefits

In Australia you usually see a GP (general practitioner, or family doctor) first when you are unwell. If the clinic bulk bills, it charges Medicare directly and you pay nothing. If it does not, you pay the full fee first and then claim the Medicare benefit back; the difference (the gap) is your cost. From 1 November 2025 the government extended bulk billing incentives to every patient with Medicare, so more clinics now bulk bill. The easiest thing is to ask 'Do you bulk bill?' when you book.

Enrolling in Medicare: who is eligible and how to apply

Medicare is Australia's public health insurance. As a public patient in a public hospital you are treated free, GP and specialist visits and tests are subsidised, and PBS prescription medicines are cheaper. Australian citizens, permanent residents, and people who have applied for a permanent visa and meet the conditions can enrol. Most temporary visa holders (students, work visas) are not eligible and rely on OSHC or OVHC insurance instead. You can enrol in myGov, or fill in form MS004 and post or email it.

Leave entitlements: annual, sick, public holidays and parental leave

The National Employment Standards (NES) set the minimum leave for every employee in Australia. Full-time employees get 4 weeks of paid annual leave a year, 10 days of paid sick and carer's leave, 2 days of compassionate leave each time it is needed, and 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave a year. After 12 months of continuous service you can take up to 12 months of unpaid parental leave. Part-time employees get these pro rata. Casual employees get no paid annual or sick leave but receive casual loading instead. Public holidays and long service leave are set by each state and territory.

Parental Leave Pay (Paid Parental Leave scheme)

Parental Leave Pay (PLP) is money the Australian Government pays to parents of a newborn or newly adopted child under the Paid Parental Leave scheme. It is based on the national minimum wage and can be shared between parents. For children born or adopted from 1 July 2025, a family can get up to 120 days; for children born from 1 July 2026, up to 130 days. You must pass an income test, a work test and residence rules, and new residents usually wait 2 years. From July 2025, the government also pays super on it into your super fund.

Family Tax Benefit (FTB)

Family Tax Benefit (FTB) is a payment from the Australian Government to help families with the cost of raising children. It has two parts, Part A and Part B, and is paid by Services Australia through Centrelink. Part A is worked out for each child and depends on your family income. Part B is paid per family, to single parents or couples with one main income. You must meet residence rules (normally Australian citizenship or a permanent visa), so families on temporary visas usually cannot get it.

Child Care Subsidy (CCS)

Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is the Australian Government's child care payment. It is paid directly to the child care service you use, so you pay less in fees. Your subsidy percentage depends on your family income, and there is an hourly rate cap. From 5 January 2026, the 3 Day Guarantee gives eligible families at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight. CCS only covers government-approved child care, and you must meet residence rules and your child must meet immunisation requirements.

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The AI answers using this guide and official Australian government websites.