Casual or Permanent — Which Should I Be? — FairWork Mate Embed

Quick context — what changed in 2024

Closing Loopholes 2024 rewrote casual conversion. Eligible casuals can notify their employer in writing under s.66AAB and the employer must respond in writing within 21 days.
Eligibility: 6+ months service for non-small-business employers, 12+ months for small business (under 15 employees), with a regular pattern of hours.
The 25% casual loading is meant to compensate for the absence of leave + super-on-leave + redundancy + notice. At full-time hours it's roughly fair on pure cash — the real decision is about non-cash factors.
Mortgage applications: permanent income is treated very differently from casual income by lenders. If you're thinking property, this matters more than the loading premium.

The numbers

Hours per week (typical)Average across recent weeks.Base hourly rate ($)Your equivalent permanent rate. For casuals: divide your casual rate by 1.25.Months in this role

Pattern + employer

Regular pattern (e.g. same days/hours each week)

Triggers s.66AAB conversion eligibility once you reach the qualifying period.

Irregular (varies week to week)

Genuinely irregular work doesn't trigger conversion rights.

My employer is a small business (under 15 employees)Different qualifying period: 12 months for small business vs 6 months otherwise.My employer has already offered me conversionClosing Loopholes also added a 'no further offer for 6 months' rule if you decline an offer.

What matters most to you?

Tick everything that applies. Your answers shape the recommendation.

Job security (don't want to be cut quickly)Paid leave (annual, sick, public holidays)Predictable income each fortnightFlexibility to refuse shifts / take time off without noticeHigher hourly rate (cash matters more than entitlements)

Casual or Permanent — Which Should I Be?

Quick context — what changed in 2024

Your situation

The numbers

Pattern + employer

What matters most to you?