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Leave

Generally, Public Servants are entitled to 15 working days sick leave (fully accumulative) and 20 working days recreation (annual) leave per year. If you have worked in the NSW public service for 10 years continuously, you are also entitled to 44 working days extended (long service) leave available on a pro-rata basis after 7 years service.

Part-time employees are entitled to leave on a pro-rata basis. This means that the leave is calculated in proportion to the number of hours you work compared with full time hours.

Various other forms of leave are available.

Use HR eXpert to find out more about your Extended Leave, Maternity Leave and Study Time.

For information about public holidays, visit the Office of Industrial Relations website.

Sick Leave

Public Servants are generally entitled to 15 working days paid sick leave per year (fully accumulative). Staff working part-time and temporary employees are entitled to pro rata sick leave. Employees unable to attend for duty must notify their manager or another employee at an appropriately senior level as soon as practicable by telephone, if possible. Medical certificates are required for absences of more than 3 consecutive days.

Special sick leave and sick leave without pay may also be available. Sick leave may also be used for personal carers' purposes. Click on the following links for more information:

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Recreation (Annual) Leave

Paid recreation leave of 20 working days per year is available to Public Servants. Part-time employees are entitled to paid recreation leave on a pro rata basis. Additional entitlements may apply to staff working in remote locations and some shift workers.

All employees must take at least 2 weeks recreation leave (or a combination of recreation and other leave) every 12 months unless special circumstances apply. Employees may be directed to take leave if accrued recreation leave exceeds 8 weeks.

Public Servants are entitled to annual leave loading of 17.5% on the value of 4 weeks recreation leave. Shift workers may be entitled to other arrangements for annual leave loading. Click on the following links for more information:

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Extended Leave (Long Service Leave)

Public Servants are entitled to 44 working days extended leave after 10 years continuous service, available on a pro-rata basis after 7 years service. After 10 years service, leave accrues at the rate of 11 working days per annum. Part-time employees are entitled leave on a pro rata basis. Service includes any continuous NSW public sector service. Special provisions apply for the recognition of service with Commonwealth and other State Government organisations. Extended leave may be taken at full pay or half pay or in some cases at double pay.

Click on the following links for more information:

Use HR eXpert to work out if you are entitled to Extended Leave or what service is recognised.

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Family and Community Services Leave (FACS)

Family and Community Services Leave (FACS) is available for a range of emergency or personal and domestic circumstances requiring leave.

Generally Public Servants are entitled to 2.5 working days FACS leave in the first year of service and 5 working days in any period of 2 years after the first year of service, or 1 working day for each year of service after 2 years continuous service.

In cases of illness of a family member an employee may also access personal carers' leave.

Click on the following links for more information:

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Personal Carers' Leave

Public Servants may access their current year's annual sick leave entitlement, minus any sick leave taken, to care or support a family member who is ill. In addition, any accrued leave from the previous 3 years may be accessed.

Time in lieu of overtime may also be used to care or support a family member who is ill. Recreation leave and make up time are also available to assist Public Servants with other family responsibilities. Click on the following links for more information:

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Parental Leave

Maternity, adoption and 'other parent' leave are available to Public Servants who are becoming parents. Up to 12 months full time leave (or equivalent part-time leave) is available. Maternity, adoption and 'other parent' leave is generally unpaid leave. Eligible Public Servants  are entitled to 14 weeks paid maternity or adoption leave, or one week's paid 'other parent' leave. Maternity, adoption and 'other parent' leave can be taken at full pay or half pay.

You can use HR eXpert to work out if you are entitled to paid Maternity Leave and also to work out how you can take your paid and unpaid Maternity Leave.

Click on the following links for more information:

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Special Leave

Special leave may be granted for activities not regarded as being on duty and which are not covered by other forms of leave.

Examples of matters for which special leave is available include: course attendance, Jury service, being a witness at court, examinations, emergencies, Aboriginal rural education program and blood donations.

Click on the following links for more information:

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Other leave conditions

Military Leave

Study Leave

You can use HR eXpert to work out if you are entitled to study time and if so, how you can take it.

Concessional Leave

Religious Duties and Cultural Obligations

Natural Emergencies and Major Transport Disruptions

Trade Union and Employee Representative Activities

  • Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Award 2009
    • Trade Union Activities regarded as on duty cl 53
    • Trade Union Activities regarded as Special Leave cl 54
    • Trade Union Training Courses cl 55
    • Conditions Applying to On-Loan Arrangements cl 56
    • Period of Notice for Trade Union Activities cl 57
    • Access to Facilities by Trade Union Delegates cl 58
    • Responsibilities of the Trade Union Delegate cl 59
    • Responsibilities of the Trade Union cl 60
    • Responsibilities of Workplace Management cl 61
    • Right of Entry Provisions cl 62
    • Travelling and Other Costs of Trade Union Delegates cl 65
    • Industrial Action cl 64
    • Deduction of Trade Union Membership Fees cl 66
  • Personnel Handbook
    • Trade union and employee representative activities, and industrial action Ch 6-21
    • Industrial matters Ch 5-1

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