Paid time off is one of the biggest differences between jobs in Australia and jobs in many other countries. If you work here, you need to understand annual leave in Australia: how much you get, what you are paid, and what happens to your unused days when you leave a job.
This guide explains annual leave, sick leave and the other main types of leave in plain English. It is written for working holiday makers, international students, skilled migrants and new permanent residents. With Christmas close, it also covers a question many workers ask at this time of year: can your boss make you take leave during a shutdown?
The founder of Life in Australia Hub has lived in Australia since March 2013. The rules below were checked against the Fair Work Ombudsman website in November 2026. This is general information, not legal advice, and your award, agreement or contract may give you more.
Quick Summary
| Topic | Key point |
|---|---|
| Annual leave | 4 weeks a year for full-time and part-time employees (pro-rata for part-time) |
| Casual employees | No paid annual leave or paid sick leave; they get a casual loading or casual pay rate instead |
| Shiftworkers | May get an extra week if their award or agreement says so |
| Sick and carer’s leave | 10 days a year for full-time employees (pro-rata for part-time) |
| Annual leave pay | Your base pay rate; some awards add annual leave loading, such as 17.5% |
| Leaving a job | Unused annual leave must be paid out; unused sick leave is not |
| Your visa | Visa holders have the same workplace rights as other employees |
| Help | Fair Work Infoline: 13 13 94; interpreter service: 131 450 |
How Much Annual Leave Do You Get in Australia?
The National Employment Standards (NES) are the minimum rules for most employees in Australia. Under the NES, full-time and part-time employees get 4 weeks of paid annual leave each year, based on their ordinary hours of work. Annual leave is also called holiday pay.
Awards and enterprise agreements can give you more annual leave, but they cannot give you less than the NES.
Full-time and part-time examples
Four weeks means four of your normal working weeks, so the number of hours depends on what you work:
- A full-time employee working 38 hours a week builds up 152 hours a year (about 2.9 hours a week).
- A part-time employee working 20 hours a week builds up 80 hours a year.
Extra leave for shiftworkers
Some shiftworkers get more than 4 weeks a year. This applies when their award or enterprise agreement has shiftwork rules and defines them as shiftworkers who receive the extra week. Working nights or weekends does not automatically give you the extra week, so check your own award.
When annual leave starts to build up
Annual leave starts building up from your first day of work, even if you are on probation. It builds up gradually through the year, and anything you do not use rolls over to the next year. It keeps building up while you are on paid leave, but not while you are on unpaid leave.
Do Casual Employees Get Annual Leave?
No. Casual employees do not get paid annual leave or paid sick leave, even if they work regular shifts for a long time. Instead, they receive a casual loading or a specific casual pay rate, which is usually why the casual hourly rate is higher. Our guide to casual vs part-time work explains this in more detail.
Casuals are not left with nothing, though. Under the NES they still get:
- 2 days of unpaid carer’s leave each time it is needed
- 2 days of unpaid compassionate leave each time it is needed
- 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave each year
- Unpaid community service leave, such as for jury duty
- In some states and territories, long service leave for long-serving casuals
Many working holiday makers start in casual jobs, so it is worth checking your job type on your contract and payslip. A job is not casual just because someone calls it that. It depends on whether there is a firm commitment to ongoing work and whether you are paid a casual rate.
How Annual Leave Is Paid
During annual leave you are paid your current base pay rate for the hours of leave you take. Base pay does not normally include overtime, penalty rates, allowances or bonuses. Your award or enterprise agreement may set out a different method, so check it first.
What is annual leave loading?
Annual leave loading is an extra amount paid to some employees when they take annual leave. It is not automatic. It depends on what your award or agreement says. A common figure is 17.5% on top of your base rate, but the exact rule varies, and some shiftworkers receive the higher of the loading or their usual shift loading.
Here is a simple example. If your base rate is $30 an hour and your award gives you 17.5% loading, you would receive $35.25 an hour for your annual leave hours. Without loading, you would receive $30 an hour.
How to Take Annual Leave
You need to ask your employer before you go on leave. The process is often set out in your award, agreement, company policy or contract. Ask as early as you can, especially for Christmas and school holidays.
- Can my employer say no? Yes, but only if the refusal is reasonable.
- How much can I take at once? There is no minimum or maximum. If you and your employer agree, you can take part of a day, a single day, or several weeks.
- Can I take leave before I have built it up? Awards and agreements can have rules about taking annual leave in advance, so check yours and get the agreement in writing.
- Can approved leave be cancelled? Some awards and agreements have rules on this. If yours does not, you and your employer should try to reach an agreement, considering things like booked flights and how close the leave is.
Can Your Employer Make You Take Annual Leave?
In some situations, yes. An employer can only direct you to take annual leave when the rules allow it. Two common cases are a business shutdown and a very large leave balance.
Christmas and New Year shutdowns
A shutdown is when a business closes for a short time, often over Christmas and New Year. You can be directed to take annual leave during a shutdown if your award or enterprise agreement allows it. If you are not covered by an award or agreement, your employer can require you to take paid annual leave if the requirement is reasonable.
If you are new and have not built up much leave, ask your employer early what will happen over the break, so you can plan your budget.
Too much leave saved up
Excess annual leave is typically more than 8 weeks saved up (10 weeks for shiftworkers). Under most awards, if you and your employer cannot agree on when you will use it, your employer can direct you to take some. They must tell you in writing and give you at least 8 weeks’ notice, and no more than 12 months’ notice. The leave must be at least one week long and generally cannot leave you with less than 6 weeks saved. Rules differ, so always check your own award.
Can You Cash Out Annual Leave?
Sometimes. Cashing out means receiving money instead of taking time off. You can only do it if your award or enterprise agreement allows it, and not all of them do. Under most awards:
- You must have at least 4 weeks of annual leave left after cashing out.
- You and your employer must sign a written agreement showing the amount of leave, the payment and the payment date.
- You cannot cash out more than 2 weeks in any 12 months.
- You must be paid what you would have received if you had taken the leave.
- Your employer cannot force or pressure you to cash out.
What Happens to Unused Annual Leave When You Leave a Job?
This is one of the most useful rules to know. When your job ends, your employer must pay you for any unused annual leave. The payment must be the same as you would have received if you had taken the leave, including annual leave loading if it applies. This is true even if your contract says something different.
Sick and carer’s leave is different. Unused sick leave is not paid out when your job ends.
If you are planning to leave Australia or finish a job, check your final pay against your last payslip. If you are claiming your retirement savings after you leave, see our superannuation guide too.
Sick and Carer’s Leave in Australia
Sick leave and carer’s leave come from the same balance, also known as personal leave. Full-time employees get 10 days a year, and part-time employees get a pro-rata amount based on their ordinary hours. A full-time employee on 38 hours a week gets 76 hours a year, while someone on 19 hours a week gets 38 hours.
Sick leave builds up from your first day of work, and unused leave carries over to the next year. It is paid at your base pay rate for the hours you would normally have worked. It can be used for illness or injury, including stress and pregnancy-related illness. Carer’s leave can be used to care for or support a member of your immediate family or household who is sick, injured or affected by an unexpected emergency.
Do you need a medical certificate?
You must tell your employer as soon as you can, which can be after your leave has started, and say how long you expect to be away. Your employer can ask for evidence, even for one day off or less. If you do not provide it when asked, you may not be paid.
Medical certificates and statutory declarations are both examples of acceptable evidence. There are no strict rules on the type, but it must convince a reasonable person that you were entitled to the leave. Your award or agreement may also have its own rules.
Getting sick during your annual leave
If you become sick or injured while on annual leave, you can use your paid sick or carer’s leave instead of annual leave. Your employer can still ask for notice and evidence, so see a doctor and keep your certificate.
Other Types of Leave You Should Know
- Compassionate leave: 2 days each time a member of your immediate family or household dies or has a life-threatening illness or injury, and in some other situations. It is paid for full-time and part-time employees, and unpaid for casuals.
- Family and domestic violence leave: all employees, including casuals, can access 10 days of paid leave each year. It is available in full straight away. For confidential support, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
- Long service leave: paid leave after a long time with the same employer. It usually comes from state and territory laws, so the rules differ. For example, you may need to work for 7 years.
- Public holidays: you have a right to be away from work on a public holiday, although your employer can make a reasonable request for you to work. Non-casual employees who normally work on that day are paid their base rate if they have the day off.
If a public holiday falls during your paid annual leave or sick leave, you are paid for the holiday and it generally does not come out of your leave balance. If you do work on a public holiday, read our guide to penalty rates.
Do Visa Holders Get Annual Leave in Australia?
Yes. Your right to leave depends on your type of employment, not your nationality. The Fair Work Ombudsman says visa holders and migrant workers have the same workplace rights and protections as other employees, including leave and other entitlements.
So a full-time or part-time employee on a student visa, working holiday visa or skilled visa gets the same annual leave as an Australian co-worker. The Fair Work Ombudsman also says your visa won’t be cancelled if you contact them for information or help. You can call 13 13 94, or call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask them to call Fair Work for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days of annual leave do you get in Australia?
Full-time employees get 4 weeks a year. If you work 5 days a week, that is usually 20 working days. Part-time employees get 4 of their own normal working weeks.
Does annual leave expire in Australia?
No. Unused annual leave rolls over from year to year. However, if you save up a very large balance, your employer may be able to direct you to take some of it, depending on your award or agreement.
Can I take annual leave during my probation period?
Your annual leave builds up during probation in the same way as usual. You still need to request it, and your employer can only refuse if the refusal is reasonable. You can only use what you have built up unless your award or agreement allows leave in advance.
Does sick leave get paid out when I quit?
No. Unused sick and carer’s leave is not paid out when your job ends. Unused annual leave is.
How can I check my leave balance?
Many employers show your leave balance on your payslip or in their payroll app. If you cannot see it, ask your manager or payroll team. You can also estimate your entitlement with the Fair Work Ombudsman’s free Leave Calculator.
Final Thoughts
The basics of annual leave in Australia are simple. Full-time and part-time employees get 4 weeks a year and it builds up from day one. Casuals get higher pay instead of paid leave. Unused annual leave is paid out when you finish a job, but unused sick leave is not.
Awards and agreements can change the details, so look up the one that covers your job. If something does not look right, ask your employer first, then contact the Fair Work Ombudsman. The service is free, and having a visa does not change your right to ask for help.
Related Guides
- Casual vs Part-Time vs Full-Time Work in Australia
- Penalty Rates in Australia: Weekend and Public Holiday Pay
- Minimum Wage in Australia
- Superannuation in Australia: A Guide for Newcomers
- How to Find a Job in Australia
