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How much long service leave have you earned?

Long service leave is state law, not federal — the accrual rate, when you can take it and what happens if you leave all depend on where you work. Pick your state, enter your service and pay, and see your weeks and their dollar value.

All 8 states & territories·Source: state legislation·Read · 4 min

Your details

State or territory

yrs
mo

Continuous service with the one employer. Unpaid parental leave usually doesn't break continuity, but it may not count towards the total.

A$

Base rate for your ordinary hours — usually excluding overtime. Annual salary ÷ 52 is a good approximation.

Your estimate · New South Wales

Accrued long service leave

6.9 weeks

Worth about $12,480 at your current pay. Pro-rata payout may apply if your job ends — see the conditions below.

Accrual rate0.87 wks/yr
Leave can be taken after10 years · 2 to go
Pro-rata on termination after5 years
Value of accrued leave$12,480

Pro-rata conditions · NSW

Payable after 5 years if the employer ends employment for any reason other than serious misconduct, or the employee resigns due to illness, incapacity or domestic or other pressing necessity.

Long Service Leave Act 1955 (NSW) · verified July 2026

Eight states, three different deals

Most of the country works on the same arithmetic: 8.67 weeks of paid leave after 10 years with one employer — two months, accrued at about 0.87 weeks a year, and roughly 4.33 more weeks for every 5 years after that.

The outliers are worth knowing. South Australia and the Northern Territory accrue 13 weeks per 10 years — half as much again as everyone else. Victoria and the ACT unlock the leave at 7 years instead of 10, so a Victorian with 7 years of service can take their 6 weeks while a Queenslander with the same service can only get a payout in limited circumstances.

The second thing that differs is the pro-rata payout— what happens if your job ends before the full milestone. NSW and the ACT start it at 5 years; everywhere else it's 7. But the conditions matter: in Victoria, SA and WA nearly any termination qualifies, while in NSW, QLD, TAS and the NT a plain resignation usually pays nothing unless it's driven by illness, incapacity or pressing necessity.

Leave is paid at your ordinary ratefor ordinary hours — overtime and most allowances don't count, though shift workers and variable-hours employees often get an averaged rate. Awards, agreements and portable industry schemes (construction, cleaning, community services) can replace these rules entirely.

Sources

  • State and territory long service leave legislation — NSW 1955, VIC 2018, QLD (IR Act 2016), WA 1958, SA 1987, TAS 1976, ACT 1976, NT 1981
  • Fair Work Ombudsman (fairwork.gov.au) — long service leave overview
  • State government guidance — business.vic.gov.au, worksafe.tas.gov.au, nt.gov.au
  • Data last verified: July 2026

§ Letters & replies

Long service leave, answered.

Common questions about long service leave across Australia.

Do I get paid out if I resign?+ open

Past the full milestone (7 or 10 years depending on state), yes — the accrued balance is paid on any termination. Between the pro-rata threshold and the milestone it depends: Victoria, SA and WA pay on almost any exit, while NSW, QLD, TAS, ACT and NT generally require illness, incapacity, pressing necessity or an employer-initiated termination.

Does part-time or casual work count?+ open

Yes. Part-timers and casuals accrue LSL in every state, as long as service with the one employer is continuous. Payment is based on your ordinary hours — for variable hours, states typically average your hours over recent years.

What breaks continuous service?+ open

Genuinely ending employment does; most interruptions don't. Approved leave (paid or unpaid), stand-downs, and in most states a business sale to a new owner keep continuity. Some unpaid periods count towards the total; others (like unpaid parental leave) preserve continuity without adding to it. The detail varies by state.

Can I cash out long service leave while still employed?+ open

Generally no — most states prohibit cashing out while employed (it defeats the purpose of a rest). SA and WA allow it in limited circumstances by agreement. On termination, the accrued balance is always paid as money.

Which state's law applies if I work remotely?+ open

Usually the state where you actually work, not where your employer is headquartered. If you've moved states during your service, the position can get complicated — the dominant connection of your employment generally decides it.

Is this calculator legal advice?+ open

No — it applies each state's standard accrual and thresholds to the service you enter. Awards, agreements, portable schemes and continuity questions can all change the outcome. For a dispute, contact your state's industrial relations body or the Fair Work Ombudsman.