✍️ Add your name to give every baby the first year they deserve.
A baby's first year lays the foundation for the rest of their life.
On 1 July, Australia expanded paid parental leave to 26 weeks, with four of those weeks reserved for fathers and partners. That was a genuine win, and it was hard fought.
Four weeks is a start. It isn't a finish.
The scheme is paid at minimum wage — around half what an average full-time worker earns. For most families it doesn't stretch to a year, and it doesn't stretch to two parents.
So instead of choosing how they want to share their baby's first year, parents are forced to make financial decisions. One parent stays home. The other goes back to work. Patterns that last for years are set before families ever had a real choice.
To be clear about something: this is not leave taken from mums. It's leave added for dads. Every week a father is home in that first year is a week a mother isn't doing it alone.
Dads are main characters in family life, not cameos. It's time our policy settings said so.
It doesn't have to be this way.
The Parenthood is campaigning for 12 months of paid parental leave at a replacement wage, with dedicated leave for both parents, so every family can afford to share their baby's first year.
On Monday 7 September, dads, kids and supporters took that case to Parliament House.
Here For It. From Day One.
Read the new ‘More Time’ With Dad report
People who have signed the petition
-
Kelly Mavrick signed 2026-09-16 09:52:02 +1000
-
Karina Beck signed 2026-09-16 09:44:21 +1000
-
Bri Powell signed 2026-09-16 09:44:04 +1000Doter
-
Carly Abbott signed 2026-09-16 09:39:41 +1000
-
Rachel Ringin signed 2026-09-16 09:38:36 +1000
-
Aasha Ferenci signed 2026-09-16 09:34:11 +1000Absolutely love the advocacy Ashton and Matt!!
-
Rachel Govan signed 2026-09-16 09:20:10 +1000Doter
-
Jen Hayden signed 2026-09-16 09:16:52 +1000
-
Rachel Bloxsome signed 2026-09-16 09:14:03 +1000
-
Lauren Coates signed 2026-09-16 09:12:40 +1000This is so necessary for families to remain more connected during this phase of their lives
-
Darryl Mitchell signed 2026-09-16 09:12:21 +1000
-
Tiana Perry signed 2026-09-16 09:06:15 +1000Doter
-
sam Armstrong signed 2026-09-16 09:05:27 +1000
-
Gemma Holmes signed 2026-09-16 09:03:15 +1000If you haven’t already, go listen to two doting dads podcast! Highly recommend!
-
Aneika McGrath signed 2026-09-16 09:01:29 +1000
-
Chelsea Condon signed 2026-09-16 08:59:53 +1000
-
Jaimee Driscoll signed 2026-09-16 08:58:38 +1000Doter
-
Kristy Ling signed 2026-09-16 08:57:35 +1000Coming from the Two Doting Dads podcast!
-
Mikaela Smith signed 2026-09-16 08:57:19 +1000
-
Maggie Esnaola signed 2026-09-16 08:54:23 +1000OG Doter/Lifer ❤️
-
Lauren Hay signed 2026-09-16 08:54:22 +1000
-
Michelle Brosnan signed 2026-09-16 08:50:56 +1000From the doters club
-
Teonie Rawlinson signed 2026-09-16 08:50:35 +1000
-
Chelcie Tarleton signed 2026-09-16 08:49:03 +1000OG Doter!!
-
Hannah Jackson signed 2026-09-16 08:46:43 +1000Doter!
-
Tracey Issa signed 2026-09-16 08:46:27 +1000
-
Sarah Kay signed 2026-09-16 08:43:55 +1000Doter
-
Briony signed 2026-09-16 08:43:50 +1000
-
Brodie Doyle signed 2026-09-16 08:43:19 +1000This is for me and every other Mum I’ve known. More time means more support and more connection. This would be so beneficial for so many families.
-
Lauren Haskett signed 2026-09-16 08:37:22 +1000