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: 21 May 2026

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.

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