We seek equal access to paid parental leave.
Early Career Researcher Parents Alliance
We are a group of higher degree research (HDR) students and early career researchers (ECRs) from across Australian tertiary institutions.
We are seeking an update in Commonwealth legislation to recognise research students in the Paid Parental Leave scheme.
We are also seeking to strengthen individual institutions’ policies to recognise the significant financial and academic contribution HDRs and ECRs make by ensuring they are eligible for paid leave when they have a baby.
Why change is needed
Current provisions are a barrier to gender equity in academia
Under current legislation, PhD candidates are not eligible for the Australian Government Paid Parental Leave scheme. Higher degree research students who have a baby during their candidature are at risk of significant financial hardship. Inadequate leave provisions disproportionately affect female ECRs.
Higher degree research is not simply study
Full-time PhD candidates are required to conduct research 40 hours per week, 48 weeks per year. They work alongside academics and contribute to universities’ core business, including through publications, teaching, conferences and ‘academic citizenship’ roles such as editing journals and organising seminars. Research students are an essential and strategic part of the workforce, and contribute significantly to the success of our tertiary institutions.
Paid parental leave is life-saving
Research shows that paid parental leave facilitates access to immunisation and medical care, supports breastfeeding, and is associated with decreased infant mortality and rehospitalization, improved infant attachment and development, and a decrease in postpartum depression and intimate partner violence.
Paid parental leave for Early Career Researchers is essential to gender equity in academia.
Get in Touch
We welcome all enquires from those wishing to join the ECR Parents Alliance or who want to know more about our work.