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SA long service leave

Long service leave for South Australian teachers

How long service leave works for SA public school teachers: where the rules come from, getting prior or interstate service counted, and what to check.

✓ Fact-checked against official sources Updated 16 October 2026 3 min read

State

SA

Rules

See below

On this page (6 sections)
  1. What it's worth
  2. Where SA teachers' long service leave comes from
  3. Recognising prior and interstate service
  4. Taking long service leave as a teacher
  5. What a term of leave is worth
  6. FAQs

The short answer

South Australian government teachers earn long service leave under the public sector rules that sit alongside the 2024 enterprise agreement. The Department for Education can recognise prior service under section 113 of the Education and Children's Services Act 2019. We have not verified the exact weeks per year of service, so check your balance with DfE before planning.

Long service leave is one of the most valuable things a teaching career builds, but in South Australia the amount is not in the enterprise agreement itself. It comes from the Teachers Award and public sector determinations, which we have not read line by line. So this page sticks to what is confirmed and tells you exactly what to ask.

What SA long service leave is worth

Long service leave applies and prior service can be recognised (Education and Children's Services Act 2019 s 113), but the amount and qualifying period were not verified. Check with the Department for Education or the AEU SA.

Where SA teachers' long service leave comes from

  • The enterprise agreement (South Australian School and Preschool Education Staff Enterprise Agreement 2024) covers pay and many conditions, but long service leave quantum sits outside it.
  • The Teachers Award and public sector determinations set how much leave you accrue and when you can take it.
  • The Education and Children's Services Act 2019, section 113 lets the department recognise earlier service, which matters if you are moving from another state or sector.

Recognising prior and interstate service

There is no national portability scheme for school teachers. Each state runs its own rules, and recognition of service from another employer is decided by that employer. SA's Department for Education has a process for recognising prior service and transferring leave, so if you have years in another state system, a Catholic school or another SA agency, apply early rather than assuming it carries over.

How to get prior service counted

  1. 1

    Gather proof of service

    Ask each previous employer for a statement of service showing start and end dates, FTE and any unpaid leave.

  2. 2

    Apply to DfE

    Use the department's recognition of prior service and transferring leave process. Do it in your first year if you can.

  3. 3

    Check the result on your record

    Make sure the recognised service shows in your leave balance, not just your personnel file.

Taking long service leave as a teacher

Teachers usually plan long service leave around whole terms, because a term away is easier for the school to cover than scattered weeks. Talk to your principal well before the term you want, and ask HR whether you can take it at a different rate of pay (for example over a longer period) if that suits you.

What a term of leave is worth

A term away on full pay is worth roughly a fifth of your annual salary. At Step 9 ($123,236 from 8 May 2026), ten weeks of paid leave is about $23,700 before tax; at Step 5 ($102,509) it is about $19,700. Pay rises during your leave apply to your leave pay.

Free calculator

Long service leave calculator

Enter your salary and balance to see what your leave is worth in dollars.

Work it out

For how long service leave compares across states, see teacher long service leave in Australia.

Frequently asked questions

How much long service leave do SA teachers get?
We have not verified the exact amount for SA government teachers, because it sits in the Teachers Award and public sector determinations rather than the 2024 enterprise agreement. Check your balance with the Department for Education.
Does interstate teaching count toward SA long service leave?
It can, but it isn't automatic. The department can recognise prior service under section 113 of the Education and Children's Services Act 2019, so you need to apply with statements of service.
Can I take long service leave in term time?
Yes, teachers commonly take it in term time, often as a whole term. You need your principal's agreement, so ask well ahead.
Do relief teachers accrue long service leave in SA?
This depends on your engagement and service pattern and we have not verified the SA rules for TRTs. Ask DfE HR how your relief service is counted.
Do I get paid out long service leave if I leave?
The payout rules depend on your years of service and why you leave, and we have not confirmed SA's thresholds. Check with DfE before you resign.

Sources we checked · last verified 16 October 2026

  1. 1.SAET: South Australian School and Preschool Education Staff Enterprise Agreement 2024 (ET-24-00640)
  2. 2.SA DfE: School teachers pay rates, effective 08/05/2026 (PDF)
  3. 3.SA DfE: Pay rates, forms for new employees and enterprise agreements
  4. 4.TRB SA: Payment of registration fees
  5. 5.AEU SA: EA27 campaign next phase (Oct 2026)
  6. 6.IEU SA: Same Work, Different Pay (Mar 2026)
  7. 7.IEU SA: Catholic EB24 – more than just numbers (Aug 2026)

About this page

Written and fact-checked by the TeacherPay AU editorial team against the enterprise agreements, awards and official pages listed in the sources. It is general information, not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it, usually within a day. See our editorial policy and how we calculate.