If you work in NSW, your basic annual leave entitlement comes from the same national law that applies everywhere in Australia — the Fair Work Act’s National Employment Standards (NES). What genuinely differs by state is long service leave and public holidays, both covered below.
How Annual Leave Works in NSW
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to a minimum of 4 weeks of paid annual leave per year, accruing progressively as you work. Casual employees don’t accrue paid annual leave — they receive casual loading instead.
The accrual formula:
Weekly accrual = (Ordinary weekly hours × 4) ÷ 52
For a standard 38-hour week:
(38 × 4) ÷ 52 = 2.923 hours accrued per week
This is identical across every state, because it’s federal law — a calculator claiming a “different NSW formula” isn’t accurate.
Long Service Leave in NSW — This Actually Is State-Specific
Unlike annual leave, long service leave (LSL) is governed by state legislation, not the NES. In NSW, it falls under the Long Service Leave Act 1955:
- 10 years of continuous service → 2 months (8.6667 weeks) of paid long service leave
- Each additional 5 years after that → 1 more month (4.3333 weeks)
- Pro-rata LSL from 5 years if employment ends due to illness, incapacity, domestic necessity, or the employee’s death
- Full-time, part-time, and casual employees can all qualify, provided service is continuous with the same employer
This is a meaningfully different entitlement from annual leave and worth knowing separately — if you’re trying to work out what you’re owed after a long stretch with one employer, LSL is usually the bigger number.
NSW Public Holidays
Public holidays affect how you plan leave, since taking annual leave around a public holiday effectively stretches your break without using extra leave days. NSW observes the national public holidays (New Year’s Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, ANZAC Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day) plus NSW-specific dates like the King’s Birthday and Labour Day.
Exact dates shift each year — check the NSW Government’s official public holidays page before locking in leave plans, especially around Easter and ANZAC Day, which can trigger an extra substitute holiday when they fall on a weekend.
Annual Leave Loading in NSW
Where an award or agreement provides for it, leave loading adds 17.5% on top of base pay during annual leave, compensating for lost overtime and penalty rates.
Loading = (Ordinary weekly pay × 17.5%) × weeks taken
Example: $1,200/week × 17.5% × 2 weeks = $420 extra.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is annual leave different in NSW compared to other states?
No — the 4-week NES entitlement and accrual formula are the same nationally. What’s state-specific is long service leave and public holiday dates.
How much long service leave am I entitled to in NSW?
2 months after 10 years of continuous service with the same employer, plus 1 additional month for every 5 years after that.
Do casual employees get long service leave in NSW?
Yes — unlike annual leave, casuals can qualify for LSL in NSW if their service is continuous.
Can I get long service leave before 10 years?
Only pro-rata, and only in specific circumstances (illness, incapacity, domestic necessity, or death) after 5 years.
Does annual leave expire in NSW?
No, it accumulates unless cashed out or paid on termination.