12-Hour Shift: Break Entitlements
Meal and rest break entitlements for a 12-hour shift under common Australian Modern Awards.
Quick Answer
On a 12-hour shift, the General Retail Award gives two unpaid meal breaks plus two 10-minute paid rest breaks; the Nurses Award gives one 30–60 minute unpaid meal break plus a paid 10-minute tea break in each 4 hours (three on 12 hours); the Hospitality Award gives one meal break plus two 20-minute paid breaks. 12-hour shifts are often set by an enterprise agreement, which can change the breaks.
Meal Break (usually unpaid)
1–2 unpaid meal breaks of 30–60 min, depending on the award
Rest Breaks (paid)
2–3 x 10 min (paid) — Hospitality 2 x 20 min
Break Entitlements by Award
Break rules vary by Modern Award. Here's what a 12-hour shift looks like under common awards, read from each award's break clause. An enterprise agreement can set different breaks.
| Award | Meal Break | Rest Breaks | Clause |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Retail (GRIA) | 2 x 30-60 min unpaid | 2 x 10 min paid | cl 16.2 Table 3 |
| Hospitality (HIGA) | 1 x at least 30 min unpaid | 2 x 20 min paid | cl 16.2 Table 2 |
| Fast Food | 1 x 30-60 min unpaid | 2 x 10 min paid | cl 14.1 Table 2 |
| Clerks—Private Sector | 2 x 30-60 min unpaid | 2 x 10 min paid | cl 15.2 Table 2 and cl 15.3 |
| Nurses Award 2020 | 1 x 30-60 min unpaid | 3 x 10 min paid | cl 14.1 and cl 14.2 |
| Aged Care | 1 x 30-60 min unpaid | 2 x 10 min paid | cl 24.1 and cl 24.2 |
How Breaks Work in Practice
- •The Nurses Award caps an ordinary shift at 10 hours (excluding meal breaks), so 12-hour nursing shifts usually come from an enterprise agreement — check its break clause.
- •Under the Nurses Award, tea breaks are 10 paid minutes in each 4 hours worked; two can be combined into one 20-minute break by agreement.
- •The minimum break between shifts depends on your award: 12 hours under the General Retail Award (10 by agreement, cl 16.6), 10 hours under the Hospitality, Nurses and Aged Care awards.
- •Under the General Retail Award, if you don't get the 12-hour break between shifts you're paid 200% until you do (cl 16.6(b)).
What if you don't get your breaks?
If your employer isn't giving you the breaks you're entitled to under your award, that's a breach. Here's what to do.
- Raise it with your manager first — in writing if possible.
- Keep a record of every shift where you were denied a break.
- Contact the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94 or lodge an online complaint.
- You may be entitled to back pay if you worked through unpaid meal breaks — use our Back Pay Calculator.
Check your exact entitlement
Want to check your specific award and shift? Our Break Compliance Checker matches your shift length against the rules for your award.
Open Break Compliance Checker →Frequently Asked Questions
How many breaks do you get on a 12-hour shift in Australia?
On a 12-hour shift the breaks depend heavily on the award: two meal breaks plus two 10-minute rest breaks under the General Retail Award; one meal break plus three 10-minute tea breaks under the Nurses Award (one per 4 hours worked); one meal break plus two 20-minute paid breaks under the Hospitality Award.
Are breaks paid on a 12-hour shift?
Rest breaks are paid — the clock keeps running. Meal breaks are unpaid under most awards, so the clock stops (under the General Retail Award, shiftworkers' meal breaks are paid too).
How many breaks on a 12-hour shift in Australia?
It depends on the award: four under the General Retail Award (two meal, two rest), four under the Nurses Award (one meal, three tea breaks), three under the Hospitality Award (one meal, two 20-minute paid breaks).
Are 12-hour shifts legal in Australia?
Yes, where the award or enterprise agreement allows them and the hours are reasonable. You get the breaks the award or agreement requires and overtime for hours beyond ordinary hours.
How long between 12-hour shifts?
The minimum break between shifts depends on your award: 12 hours under the General Retail Award (10 by agreement, cl 16.6), 10 hours under the Hospitality, Nurses and Aged Care awards. The Nurses and Aged Care awards allow 8 hours by mutual agreement.
Do nurses get 2 meal breaks on a 12-hour shift?
Not under the Nurses Award 2020 itself — it gives one 30–60 minute unpaid meal break (cl 14.1) and a paid 10-minute tea break in each 4 hours (cl 14.2). Many 12-hour nursing rosters run under enterprise agreements, which can provide more.
Other shift lengths
FairWork Mate AI
Is the figure right for you?
The advisor reads your payslip, contract or letter against the Fair Work Commission case library and cites the decision behind every answer.
Renews monthly at A$29.99 until you cancel. By continuing you agree to our Terms.
Get pay and rights updates for your job
Free email updates when award rates, the minimum wage or workplace laws change.