Pick your shift length to see exact meal and rest break entitlements under Australian Modern Awards.
Last verified: 21 May 2026How many breaks do you get on a shift in Australia? It depends on how long you work and which Modern Award covers you. The key rule: under most awards you can't work more than 5 consecutive hours without a meal break.
Pick your shift length below to see the exact meal and rest break entitlements, broken down by the most common Modern Awards.
4-Hour Shift →
No meal break required. 0-1 x 10 min paid rest break.
5-Hour Shift →
30 min unpaid meal + 1 x 10 min paid rest break.
6-Hour Shift →
30 min unpaid meal + 1 x 10 min paid rest break.
7-Hour Shift →
30-60 min meal + 1-2 x 10 min rest breaks.
8-Hour Shift →
30-60 min meal + 2 x 10 min rest breaks. Standard full shift.
9-Hour Shift →
30-60 min meal + 2 x 10 min rest breaks. Overtime usually kicks in.
10-Hour Shift →
30-60 min meal + 2-3 rest breaks. Possible second meal break.
11-Hour Shift →
Two 30 min meal breaks + 3 x 10 min rest breaks.
12-Hour Shift →
Two 30 min meal breaks + 3 x 10-15 min rest breaks.
Our Break Compliance Checker matches your shift against the rules for your specific Modern Award — hospitality, retail, nursing, manufacturing and more.
Open Break Compliance Checker →| Shift Length | Meal Break | Paid Rest Breaks |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | None required | 0-1 x 10 min |
| 5 hours | 30 min unpaid | 1 x 10 min |
| 6 hours | 30 min unpaid | 1 x 10-15 min |
| 7 hours | 30-60 min unpaid | 1-2 x 10 min |
| 8 hours | 30-60 min unpaid | 2 x 10 min |
| 9 hours | 30-60 min unpaid | 2 x 10-15 min |
| 10 hours | 30-60 min (+ possible 2nd) | 2-3 x 10 min |
| 11 hours | Two 30 min unpaid | 3 x 10 min |
| 12 hours | Two 30 min unpaid | 3 x 10-15 min |
Under most Modern Awards, you can't work more than 5 consecutive hours without a 30-minute unpaid meal break. Some awards also require paid rest breaks of 10-15 minutes during the shift.
Meal breaks (lunch/dinner) are unpaid — typically 30-60 minutes. Rest breaks (tea/smoko) are paid — usually 10-15 minutes. The exact amounts depend on your award.
Yes. The longer your shift, the more breaks you get. A 4-hour shift has no meal break, a 6-hour shift gets one 30-min meal break, and a 12-hour shift gets two meal breaks plus three rest breaks under most awards.
That's a breach of your Modern Award. Raise it with your manager in writing, keep records, and contact the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94. You may be owed back pay if you worked through unpaid meal breaks.
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FairWork Mate is an independent commercial service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Fair Work Commission, or any Australian Government agency. Content is general information and estimates only — not legal, financial, or tax advice. Always verify with the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified professional.
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