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About the EPA > Information for EPA employees > Information for working parents

While on parental leave

Maintaining Contact during Leave

The Agency is required to keep you informed of any significant workplace change and any effect the change may have on your position.  However, you are also required to advise the Agency of any change in your circumstances.  Maintaining contact also helps you to avoid skill reduction and a sense of isolation while on parental leave.  Ways to maintain contact are:

  1. Informing your manager of your preferred means of communication by completing a “Keeping in Touch” form available on Robin, or in the information sent to you when you are on leave by the Workforce Development Unit.
  2. Requesting regular copies of publications, for example, newsletters and the HR Update, to be forwarded to you. These can be sent via e-mail or regular mail.
  3. Requesting that information on operational plans, procedural or structural changes proposed, or events/training etc in the workplace, is forwarded to you.
  4. Ensuring that your e-mail address is kept on the unit’s e-mail network, so that you receive relevant work based information or ask for copies to be posted to you.

Child Care

Parents have a number of options to consider when seeking out quality and accredited child care services.  When choosing child care it is important to look at staff ratios, how staff and carers interact with the children, and whether the setting is welcoming, friendly and inviting.

  1. Consider if their accreditation is up to date;
  2. If hygiene procedures and supervision is in place;
  3. Are meals and snacks nutritious;
  4. If there is a daily activities plan; and
  5. Are sleeping/resting arrangements adequate and are pick up arrangements secure?

If considering using a child care centre, you are encouraged to place your name on the waiting list as soon as possible.  Waiting lists exist at Child Care Centres due to high demand.

Family Payments

The Australian Government offers a range of payments through the Medicare Office to support families with their work and family responsibilities.  Each payment is different, depending on the needs of each family.

Last updated: 12 February 2008