What is carer's leave?
Carer's leave is paid leave to care for an immediate family or household member who is ill, injured, or facing an unexpected emergency.
Carer's leave is part of the combined paid personal/carer's leave entitlement under section 96 of the Fair Work Act 2009. It lets an employee take paid leave to provide care or support to an immediate family member or household member who is sick, injured, or affected by an unexpected emergency.
It is not a separate balance — it draws from the same 10 days of paid personal/carer's leave that full-time employees accrue each year (pro-rata for part-time). The same balance covers your own illness and caring for others, and unused leave rolls over from year to year.
Key facts
- •Carer's leave is part of the paid personal/carer's leave entitlement under s.96 of the Fair Work Act 2009
- •Full-time employees get 10 days paid personal/carer's leave per year, accruing pro-rata for part-time
- •It covers caring for an immediate family or household member who is ill, injured, or in an emergency
- •It draws from the same balance as paid sick leave — it is not an additional allocation
- •Casuals do not get paid carer's leave but can access unpaid carer's leave
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Leave Entitlements CalculatorFrequently asked questions
Is carer's leave separate from sick leave?
No. Carer's leave and sick leave both come from the same paid personal/carer's leave balance — 10 days a year for full-time employees. Using one reduces the amount available for the other.
Who counts as an immediate family member for carer's leave?
Immediate family includes a spouse or de facto partner, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling — and the same relations of your spouse or partner. Members of your household are also covered.
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General information and estimates only — not legal, financial or tax advice. Always check your specific award, agreement or contract, or a qualified professional, before you rely on the result.