Leave rules · 2026
Annual leave and sick leave rules in Australia (2026)
Employees in Australia get at least 20 days of paid annual leave a year on a 5-day week (4 weeks). Sick leave: 10 paid days a year.
Rules as of September 2026 · page built Monday, September 28, 2026Statutory minimums
High confidenceYour number
20 days a year (160 hours)
Statutory minimum 20 days on a 5-day week at 0 years of service.
Paid sick leave: 10 days a year (80 hours).
This is the legal floor for Australia; the contract can give more.
| Service | Minimum (5-day week) | In weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Starting entitlement | 20 days | 4 weeks |
4 weeks of paid annual leave a year for full-time employees (National Employment Standards), accruing progressively through the year.
Worked exampleA full-time employee on a 5-day week gets at least 20 days a year.
What the rules mean in practice
In Australia, a full-time employee on a 5-day week is entitled to at least 20 days of paid annual leave a year, which is 4 weeks.
In Australia, a full-time employee on a 5-day week is entitled to at least 20 days of paid annual leave a year, which is 4 weeks. The legal wording: 4 weeks of paid annual leave a year for full-time employees (National Employment Standards), accruing progressively through the year.
Compared with the other 37 jurisdictions LeaveCalc covers, that starting minimum is higher than 20, the same as 8 and lower than 9. Across all of them the range runs from 5 days (the Philippines) to 30 days (the United Arab Emirates). 20 days is about 7.7% of a 260-day working year.
No service-based step is recorded here, so the 20-day minimum applies at every length of service; the official source has the full rule.
Public holidays are in addition to annual leave and vary by state or territory. For 2026, the public holiday calendar for Australia lists 7 holidays, 5 of them on working days. An employee who has all 5 weekday holidays off on top of the 20-day minimum is away from work on at least 25 weekdays in 2026.
Sick leave: 10 days of paid personal/carer's leave a year for full-time employees, accruing progressively. Unused leave carries over. LeaveCalc rates this entry High confidence, based on the official sources listed below as of September 2026.
Public holidays
Public holidays are in addition to annual leave and vary by state or territory. See the 2026 and 2027 public holiday dates for Australia, with .ics downloads.
Sources
- https://www.fairwork.gov.au/leave/annual-leave
- https://www.fairwork.gov.au/leave/sick-and-carers-leave
- https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2009A00028/latest/text
As of September 2026. Statutory minimums only: contracts, collective agreements and local rules can give more.
Questions about leave in Australia
The statutory minimum is 20 days a year for a full-time employee on a 5-day week (4 weeks).
How many days of annual leave do employees get in Australia?
The statutory minimum is 20 days a year for a full-time employee on a 5-day week (4 weeks). 4 weeks of paid annual leave a year for full-time employees (National Employment Standards), accruing progressively through the year.
Does annual leave increase with length of service in Australia?
No service-based step is recorded here for Australia: the statutory minimum stays at 20 days a year. Check the official source for the full rule.
Is sick leave paid in Australia?
Yes. The minimum is 10 paid days a year. 10 days of paid personal/carer's leave a year for full-time employees, accruing progressively. Unused leave carries over.
Are public holidays part of annual leave in Australia?
Public holidays are in addition to annual leave and vary by state or territory. In 2026 the calendar for Australia has 7 public holidays, 5 of them on working days.