r/workingmumsau

NSW PARENTAL LEAVE

With the Government Paid Parental Leave, is it recommended to get it paid directly to you by Centrelink, or opt to have it paid through employer?

Getting it paid directly seems more flexible for keeping track of payments/days, but I’m worried about ending up with a big tax bill later since Centrelink only withholds 15% tax?

Seems more cleaner to have it employer paid since they automatically calculate and withhold the correct amounts so trying to suss what is recommended…

Does the amount of tax differ depending on how many days you claim or if you’re claiming it alongside Employer Paid Parental Leave?

For context, I also have 14 Weeks Employer Paid Parental Leave. I am taxed about 37%, but also have my HELP Debt on top of this. Figuring out the best possible solution to use my Employer Leave + Government Leave. Please share suggestions and personal experiences!

Hi mums

I’ve been working part-time ever since my first child was born, and now they’ll be heading to school next year, I’m at a bit of a crossroads.

In these daycare years, part-time work seemed really embraced and easy to manage. But stepping into the school-age phase, I’m starting to feel the shift now that I’m in a senior role. I feel it’s the elephant in the room - how long is this 3 day a week arrangement going to go on?

It’s not really a financial decision for me, it’s more about what fulfills me personally and keeps me feeling like I’m growing in my career. On one hand, I want to be a present mum, and I know that’s possible for mums working full-time too. But I’m also figuring out what trade-offs I’m willing to make. I’ve seen enough to know that having it all perfectly balanced isn’t realistic.

Like all corporates my workplace would drop me / forget about me in a heartbeat if they had to make cuts BUT i still care too much to not give 110% to the work I do 🙃

I’m curious to hear from others who have been through this: have you found that part-time work starts to feel limiting at this stage of your career? Did you decide to jump back into full-time work and outsource more, or did you find a middle ground?

Any advice or experiences would be super helpful.

My partner works for a mining company on project delivery. We’ve been lucky that since our daughter was born he’s had to go to site rarely. This is soon to change, and he has monthly trips for a couple of months and then will be at site 2-3 nights a week later this year. This was what his work was like when we met and until 2024, so we both knew this day would come.

I have a middle management role with a large team of direct and indirect reports which is obviously relatively demanding too.

Partner was away for 3 nights, 4 days this week. It’s been hard but not impossible.

I want to vibe check my expectations with other parents in similar positions. My expectations broadly are that my partner will recognise that the days he is away place an extra toll on me as I’m managing my own work, all daycare drop offs and pick ups, parenting and household duties by myself. As a result I hope he will pick up a bit ‘extra’ one or two days a week to give me a rest (e.g do dinner and bedtime routine solo, an extra load of washing etc).

I’m pre empting a discussion about how tired he is after site visits, and how he also needs a rest. Which I totally understand as working long days in a stressful job is difficult. I don’t want to be unfair as he does work very hard and his work affords us a very privileged life. But I also work long days and on the days he is away for work I don’t get to disconnect from any responsibilities for a moment!

Please be brutally honest, and also share any tips or ideas with me if you are in a similar position. Thank you x

What does your flexible work arrangement look like? I have a 1 hour commute to work (each way) and am trying to schedule office hours and school pickups. Would love to hear from others what works and what doesn't.

I’m an early childhood teacher with about 5 years of experience, and I used to genuinely love what I do. But since having kids, I’ve been feeling increasingly overwhelmed trying to balance work, family, and personal life.

As you probably know, ECE is emotionally and physically demanding. I give so much of my energy to the children during the day, and by the time I get home, I feel completely drained. I don’t feel like I’m showing up as the parent or partner I want to be, and it’s starting to take a toll on me.

I’ve been thinking about a possible career switch, but I feel unsure about where to go from here.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Did you find ways to make it more sustainable, or did you transition into a different career? If you switched, what did you move into and how did you start?

I’d really appreciate any advice or shared experiences. Thank you 🙏

Hi everyone! (delete if this is not allowed)

I’m a journalism student at UQ, currently working on a long-form story exploring how rising living costs, childcare expenses and the pressure of balancing work and motherhood are affecting Australian families.

I’m hoping to speak with mums who:
• feel financial pressures are affecting decisions around having more children,
• are struggling with childcare affordability,
• or feel the pressure of balancing paid work, parenting and household responsibilities.

The project is for a university assignment only and will not be publicly published - it will only be viewed by my tutor and me. 

Interviews can be informal and can take place over message, email, phone or Zoom — whatever feels most comfortable. Happy to answer any questions privately as well.

If you’d be open to chatting, please comment or message me privately. Thank you so much :)