Australia Annual Leave & PTO Guide
Understand your annual leave entitlements under Australian law. Learn about the National Employment Standards, leave accrual, leave loading, and your rights as an employee.
Annual Leave in Australia
Under the National Employment Standards (NES), full-time and part-time employees in Australia are entitled to 4 weeks (20 days) of paid annual leave per year. Shift workers may be entitled to 5 weeks.
How Leave Accrues
Annual leave accrues progressively throughout the year based on ordinary hours worked. It accumulates from your first day of employment and can be accessed once it has accrued.
Leave Loading
Many Australian workers receive annual leave loading—an extra payment (typically 17.5%) on top of their base pay when taking annual leave. This originated from awards covering specific industries.
Taking and Cashing Out Leave
Employees can take annual leave when agreed with their employer. Annual leave can be cashed out in some circumstances, but you must keep at least 4 weeks accrued.