How many days of annual leave do you get in Australia?

Full-time employees in Australia are entitled to 4 weeks (20 days) of paid annual leave per year under the National Employment Standards. Part-time employees receive a pro-rata amount based on their ordinary hours. Shift workers covered by certain awards may receive 5 weeks of annual leave.

How many sick days do you get per year in Australia?

Full-time employees are entitled to 10 days of paid personal/carer's leave per year under the NES. This leave accumulates year to year and can be used for personal illness or injury, or to care for an immediate family or household member. Part-time employees receive a pro-rata entitlement.

Do casual employees get leave entitlements in Australia?

Casual employees are not entitled to paid annual leave or paid personal/carer's leave under the NES. However, they are entitled to 2 days of unpaid carer's leave per occasion, 2 days of unpaid compassionate leave per occasion, and 5 days of unpaid family and domestic violence leave per year. The casual loading is intended to compensate for the lack of paid leave.

Does annual leave accumulate if unused in Australia?

Yes. Under the NES, annual leave accumulates year to year and any unused leave carries over. There is no cap on how much annual leave can be accumulated, although some awards allow an employer to direct an employee to take leave if their balance becomes excessive (typically more than 8 weeks).

What happens to annual leave when you resign?

When you resign, all accrued but untaken annual leave must be paid out in your final pay. This applies regardless of the reason for leaving. The payout is calculated at your base rate of pay at the time of termination. If your award provides for 17.5% leave loading, check whether it applies to leave paid out on termination.

How is annual leave calculated for part-time employees?

Part-time employees receive annual leave on a pro-rata basis. The formula is: (ordinary hours per week / 38) x 20 days per year. For example, if you work 25 hours per week, your entitlement is (25/38) x 20 = 13.16 days per year. Leave accrues progressively from the first day of employment.

How many annual leave days can you accumulate in Australia?

There is no maximum cap on annual leave accumulation under the NES. However, most modern awards define an excessive balance as more than 8 weeks (10 weeks for shift workers). Once your balance is excessive, your employer can direct you to take leave, provided they give 8 weeks notice and your balance does not fall below 6 weeks.

Annual Leave Calculator

Calculate your annual leave, personal/carer's leave, and other entitlements under the National Employment Standards.

Last verified: 1 July 2025

Full-time workers get 4 weeks (20 days) of paid annual leave per year, 10 days of paid personal/carer's leave, and 2 days of compassionate leave. Part-timers get these pro-rata. Casuals get no paid leave but receive 25% loading instead.

Can My Boss Refuse My Annual Leave? When They Can (and Can't)

Put in your leave request and got knocked back? Here's when your boss can legally refuse annual leave, what counts as 'reasonable business grounds,' and what to do if they keep saying no.

Cashing Out Annual Leave: Rules, Tax & When You Can Do It

Learn the strict rules for cashing out annual leave in Australia. You must keep 4 weeks minimum, need a written agreement, and your employer can't force you to cash out.

Annual Leave in Australia: Complete Guide to Your 4 Weeks Paid Leave

Everything you need to know about annual leave in Australia. Covers the 4-week entitlement, how leave accrues, 17.5% leave loading, cashing out rules, directed leave, and what happens to unused leave on termination.

Get notified when rates change

Free alerts when minimum wage, award rates, or workplace laws are updated.

Free forever. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

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.

Learn more

Easter Leave Hack: 10 Days Using Only 3

Easter 2026 + Anzac Day = two long weekends in April. Use just 3 leave days to get 10 days off. Here's the exact dates to book.

Annual Leave Australia: 4 Weeks + 17.5% Loading Explained

You get 4 weeks (20 days) paid annual leave per year in Australia. Check your rights: leave loading (17.5%), payout on resignation, employer refusal rules, and part-time pro-rata entitlements.

Leave Loading: The 17.5% Bonus Most Workers Don't Know They're Owed

Most Australian awards require your employer to pay 17.5% extra when you take annual leave — worth $600+ per year. Millions of workers don't get it. Check if you're owed leave loading.

From the Mate Network

Daily Leave Value →

Convert your salary to see how much each day of leave is worth.

Tax on Leave Payout →

Calculate the tax on your unused leave if you cash it out or leave your job.

Annual Leave Calculator

Related Articles

Learn more

Related Tools

From the Mate Network