Same-sex couples with kids are more likely to share parenthood evenly with both parents in part-time jobs rather than one working and one staying at home, a new study suggests.

Today’s Sydney Morning Herald reports that the same-sex couples surveyed by Melbourne’s La Trobe University were likely to divide parenting and household tasks more equally than straight couples.

“Perhaps because of the extraordinary effort gay people must go to to have children, spending time with them is a big priority for both parents, the study found.”

Almost 300 lesbian couples were surveyed, and it was found that the mother who gave birth to the baby and breastfeeds may not necessarily be the parent who will stay at home or be the main nurturer.

Recent scientific research has consistently shown that gay or lesbian parent couples are as fit and capable as heterosexual parents, and their children are as psychologically healthy and well-adjusted as children reared by heterosexuals.

Adoption of children by a same-sex couple is now legal in New South Wales, the ACT, Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland and Victoria, though not in the Northern Territory or South Australia.