In short:
A federal inquiry is looking at whether Australia's National Employment Standards (NES) are fit for purpose.
asserted
Standards → look → purpose
Several unions, lawyers and advocates are pushing for at least 10 days of non-cumulative paid reproductive leave on top of existing sick leave.
What's next?
The inquiry is expected to report back later in 2026.
asserted
inquiry → push → 2026
When Georgia miscarried her first pregnancy, she felt she couldn't take as much leave as she needed.
asserted
she → miscarry → leave
The graphic designer, in her 20s, experienced pregnancy loss at 13 weeks earlier this year, saying it was "emotionally super traumatic", but she returned to work almost immediately.
asserted
she → experience → work
"Emotionally and physically it was one of the most painful things I've ever been through and I only took two days off.
asserted
I → take → days
There's sort of no guidelines or there was nothing written into any of our policies about miscarriage and what you do and what's expected of you."
asserted
what → be → you
While that experience stood out, Georgia said "hormones flying'' and physical discomfort linked to her menstrual cycle was something she faced regularly, but taking time off work didn't feel like an option.
asserted
taking → stand → option
"If I was to have a day off because of period pain, I think I would actually make something else up and just say I have stomach pain," Georgia said.
asserted
Georgia → have → pain
"It still feels like I have to cover it.
asserted
I → feel → it
I still feel there's guilt and a stigma around using period pain as an excuse."
A federal inquiry is considering whether Australia's National Employment Standards (NES) are still fit for purpose, with several submissions pitching a need for reproductive leave, among other suggestions.
asserted
submissions → feel → suggestions
The inquiry's recommendations are expected later this year.
asserted
recommendations → expect → ?
Some unions, lawyers and advocates are pushing for at least 10 days of non-cumulative paid reproductive leave on top of existing sick leave.
asserted
unions → push → leave
So, what could the leave cover?
uncertain
leave → cover → what
Some submissions to the inquiry suggest reproductive leave could cover things such as fertility treatment, miscarriage, menstrual pain, menopause and endometriosis.
uncertain
leave → suggest → treatment
Some suggest reproductive leave could cover men too, for things such as prostate cancer screening, vasectomies and other allied health conditions.
uncertain
leave → suggest → screening
Advocates call for it to be in addition to the standard 10 days of sick leave, not instead of it.
And they say it's not just about leave, it's also about workplaces offering more flexibility.
asserted
it → call → flexibility
Georgia believes reproductive leave would be significantly helpful.
asserted
leave → believe → ?
"Ideally I would be able to work from home but like have my heat pack, wear elastic waist pants, and move around so that I'm lying on the floor or squatting or sitting cross-legged or moving around so my belly feels more comfortable."
asserted
belly → work → floor
She believes many workplaces weren't designed with women's health in mind.
"
asserted
workplaces → believe → mind
Working traditionally was for men.
asserted
Working → work → men
It was built around men.
asserted
It → build → men
Several countries have introduced policies recognising the impact of menstrual health at work.
asserted
countries → introduce → work
Spain became the first European country to introduce paid menstrual leave in 2023.
asserted
Spain → become → 2023
Japan has had menstrual leave provisions since 1947, though doesn't guarantee the leave is paid, nor the number of days available, while Indonesia, South Korea, Zambia and several states in Mexico also have menstrual leave policies in place.
asserted
Indonesia → have → place
In Australia, some employers have already introduced menstrual and reproductive health leave or flexible work arrangements to support staff experiencing period pain and other reproductive health conditions.
asserted
employers → introduce → pain
Montana Lower is the founder of INBLUEM, a natural skincare business in regional New South Wales, where she says workplace flexibility and a family-centric approach are built into the company's culture.
asserted
flexibility → say → culture
Employees can access flexible working arrangements, and staff can choose to share their cycle dates through a dedicated team calendar filter.
asserted
staff → access → filter
Ms Lower says recognising the natural fluctuations of the menstrual cycle has benefited both employees and the business.
asserted
recognising → say → employees
"When we started making space for that cyclical nature, we noticed an increase in productivity and in how people felt showing up to work," she said.
asserted
she → start → work
She's also a strong supporter of universal reproductive leave, arguing menstrual health shouldn't be treated as an illness.
asserted
health → argue → illness
"I disagree with it falling under sick leave because I don't believe cycling women are sick," she said.
"
asserted
she → disagree → leave
We're undergoing a very necessary process that life depends upon."
asserted
life → undergo → that
Queensland public sector wins reproductive leave
In 2024, the Queensland government gave about 320,000 public sector workers access to 10 days of paid reproductive leave as part of a new agreement with the unions.
asserted
government → win → unions
Queensland Council of Unions general secretary Jacqueline King says they now want to see it rolled out nationally.
asserted
it → say → Unions
"Queensland has opened up that doorway for people to actually talk about what are real-life issues and everyday issues for many women, and a recognition that you're not slacking off."
asserted
you → open → women
Modelling from the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre, which was commissioned by a group of unions including the Queensland Council of Unions, found reproductive health issues cost the Australian economy $21.3 billion a year.
asserted
issues → commission → billion
It factors in employee absences and the impact of people working through pain at a reduced capacity.
asserted
people → factor → capacity
Michelle O'Shea is a researcher in workplace equity at Western Sydney University who, along with colleagues, made a submission to the National Employment Standards (NES) inquiry calling for all Australian workers to receive reproductive leave.
"
asserted
workers → make → leave
We've got a situation where women are engaged in the labour market in a way never seen before," Dr O'Shea told triple j hack.
asserted
O'Shea → get → hack
She argues governments ultimately want to keep women in the workforce.
asserted
governments → argue → workforce
…and 11 more, not listed.
The Aporia