Paid Parental Leave evaluation

The Paid Parental Leave evaluation was conducted over a four-year period from 2010 to 2014. It informs the Government about the immediate impact of the Paid Parental Leave scheme and the extent to which the scheme is likely to achieve its longer-term objectives.

Department of Social Services commissioned the Institute for Social Science Research at the University of Queensland, heading a team of 20 academics across five Australian research institutions, to conduct the PPL evaluation.

The evaluation is comprised of four phases.

Phase 1 established robust baseline data in all areas related to the immediate, intermediate and ultimate outcomes of the evaluation. Phase 2 evaluated the initial operation of the PPL scheme. Phase 3 evaluated the intermediate and, where possible, ultimate outcomes of the PPL scheme. Phase 4 was delivery of the final evaluation report, which includes a report on the evaluation of Dad and Partner Pay.

Four reports have been produced under the evaluation:

Paid Parental Leave evaluation Phase 1 report

Paid Parental Leave evaluation Phase 2 report

Paid Parental Leave evaluation Phase 3 report

Paid Parental Leave evaluation Phase 4 report

Findings from the evaluation of Paid Parental Leave were considered as part of the legislated review of the Paid Parental Leave scheme

The group of mothers who participated in the PPL evaluation were also followed as part of the Millennium Mums project.

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