Exact meal and rest break entitlements for a 8-hour shift under Australian Modern Awards.
Last verified: 21 May 2026On an 8-hour shift in Australia, you get one 30-60 minute unpaid meal break plus 2 x 10-minute paid rest breaks (one mid-morning, one mid-afternoon) under most Modern Awards. Total break time is around 50-80 minutes.
Meal Break (unpaid)
30-60 minutes unpaid (after 5 hours worked)
Rest Breaks (paid)
2 x 10 min (paid)
Break rules vary by Modern Award. Here's what a 8-hour shift looks like under the most common awards in Australia.
| Award | Meal Break | Rest Breaks |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitality (HIGA) | 30 min unpaid after 5 hrs | 2 x 10 min paid |
| General Retail (GRIA) | 30-60 min unpaid after 5 hrs | 2 x 10 min paid |
| Fast Food | 30 min unpaid after 5 hrs | 1-2 x 10 min paid |
| Clerks—Private Sector | 30-60 min unpaid after 5 hrs | No paid rest break required |
| Manufacturing | 30 min unpaid after 5 hrs | 2 x 10 min paid |
| Nurses Award 2020 | 30 min unpaid after 5 hrs | 2 x 10 min paid |
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.
Want to check your specific award and shift? Our Break Compliance Checker matches your shift length against the rules for your exact award.
Open Break Compliance Checker →On a 8-hour shift under most Modern Awards, you get 30-60 min unpaid meal break(s) and 2 x 10 min (paid). 8-hour shift: 30-60 min unpaid meal break + 2 x 10-min paid rest breaks. Standard full shift.
Meal breaks are unpaid — the clock stops. Rest breaks are paid — the clock keeps running. On a 8-hour shift, expect 30-60 min unpaid unpaid and 2 x 10 min (paid) paid.
Three breaks total: two 10-minute paid rest breaks plus one 30-60 minute unpaid meal break. That's the standard under HIGA, GRIA, the Nurses Award, and Manufacturing.
30 minutes under most awards, up to 60 minutes under retail, clerks and some others. It's unpaid.
You get the paid rest breaks the award requires (usually 2 x 10 min). Employers can't force you to smoke or not smoke during them, but you can't take extra smoke breaks beyond the award entitlement.
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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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