Australia’s paid parental leave lags behind its European counterparts.

Researchers from the University of Adelaide say the scheme, to be introduced in 2013, has the potential to shift gender roles, improving the postion of women in the workforce.

But to catch up with countries such as Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, significant changes would need to be made, such as increasing the level of payment to match parents' normal earnings, facilitating fathers' only leave, increasing the degree of flexibility and introducing stronger legislation to ensure job protection.