How much sick leave am I entitled to in Australia?
Most employees in Australia are entitled to 10 days of paid personal/carer's leave (often called sick leave) per year, which accrues progressively. This entitlement applies to full-time and part-time employees but not generally to casuals.
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How it works in practice
Understanding Personal/Carer's Leave
In Australia, eligible employees are entitled to a minimum of 10 days of paid personal/carer's leave per year. This entitlement is often referred to as sick leave and covers situations where an employee is unfit for work due to personal illness or injury, or needs to care for an immediate family or household member who is sick, injured, or requires care due to an unexpected emergency.
Accrual and Eligibility
This leave accrues progressively, meaning it builds up over the year based on the employee's ordinary hours of work. For example, a full-time employee will accrue approximately 1.92 hours of leave each week. This entitlement is a minimum standard under the National Employment Standards (NES), which applies to all national system employees in Australia, regardless of their award or agreement. Unused leave carries over from year to year.
Important exceptions
Casual employees are generally not entitled to paid personal/carer's leave but may have access to unpaid carer's leave. Some enterprise agreements or awards may provide more generous leave entitlements than the National Employment Standards, so it's important to check your specific industrial instrument. Employers can also request evidence, such as a medical certificate, for taking personal leave, and failure to provide it may result in the leave being unpaid. Additionally, employees must notify their employer as soon as practicable.
What you should do now
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Review your employment contract, award, or enterprise agreement to understand your specific personal/carer's leave entitlements.
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Accurately track your leave accrual and usage, typically available through your payslips or HR portal.
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Inform your employer as soon as possible if you need to take personal/carer's leave, following your workplace's notification policy.
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Obtain necessary documentation, such as a medical certificate, if requested by your employer, especially for absences exceeding two days.
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If you believe your entitlements are not being met, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman for advice and assistance.
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