Leave & entitlements

Teacher leave and entitlements in Australia

Long service leave, paid parental leave, sick leave, leave loading and part-time work for teachers in every Australian state, compared and explained.

Teachers' leave works differently from most jobs. Permanent teachers are paid through school holidays instead of accruing annual leave in the usual way, sick leave is generous and cumulative in most states, and long service leave rules vary widely between states: some give 13 weeks after 10 years, NSW counts in working days, and several let you take it pro rata from 7 years.

Parental leave changed again in 2026: the government's Parental Leave Pay rose to 26 weeks for babies born from 1 July 2026, and super is now paid on it. On top sits each state's own paid leave, which ranges from 14 to 24 weeks for a primary carer.

Choose your state below for the exact rules, or compare all eight in our long service leave and parental leave guides.

Long service leave by state

NSW New South Wales VIC Victoria QLD Queensland WA Western Australia SA South Australia TAS Tasmania ACT Australian Capital Territory NT Northern Territory

Guides

Long service leave

Teacher long service leave in Australia: what you get in every state

How much long service leave teachers get after 10 years in each state, when you can take it early, and how to stretch it.

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Parental leave

Teacher maternity and parental leave in Australia: what each state pays in 2026

Employer-paid parental leave for teachers in every state, how it stacks with 26 weeks of government PPL, and what it adds up to.

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Leave loading

Leave loading for teachers: how the 17.5% works and what it pays in 2026

How teachers' 17.5% annual leave loading is calculated, capped and paid in each state, with 2026 dollar figures.

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Career breaks

Leave without pay and career breaks for teachers: your options and what they cost

How to take a year off teaching without resigning: leave without pay, deferred salary schemes, half-pay LSL and study leave.

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Part-time work

Part-time teaching and job share: pay, leave and your rights in 2026

What part-time and job-share teaching pays after tax, how leave and super scale down, and your right to return part-time.

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Parental leave

Returning to teaching after parental leave: part-time rights, pay and paperwork

Notice, part-time rights, pay at different FTEs, registration and accreditation when you return from parental leave.

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Sick leave

Teacher sick leave in Australia: how many days you get in each state

Sick and personal leave for teachers in every state: days a year, how it builds up, carer's leave and evidence.

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Tools for this

⚡ Long Service Leave CalculatorWeeks accrued under your state's rules, and what they're worth. ⚡ Parental Leave Pay CalculatorEmployer leave plus 26 weeks of government pay, week by week. ⚡ Part-Time Teacher Pay CalculatorYour salary and take-home at any FTE or number of days.

Frequently asked questions

How much long service leave do teachers get?

Commonly 13 weeks (3 months) after 10 years of service, with extra accruing after that, but the rules differ by state: NSW gives 44 working days after 10 years, and several states allow pro-rata access from 7 years. Check your state's page for the exact entitlement.

Do teachers get paid maternity leave?

Yes. Government school teachers get employer-paid parental leave (from 14 to 24 weeks depending on the state), and can also receive up to 26 weeks of government Parental Leave Pay for births from 1 July 2026, subject to the work and income tests.

Do teachers get annual leave?

Permanent teachers are paid during school holidays rather than taking annual leave on request. Most are expected to be available for work only during term, apart from a small number of pupil-free days.