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VIC long service leave

Long service leave for Victorian teachers

Victorian teachers get 3 months' long service leave after 10 years, then 1.5 months every 5 years, with pro rata access from 7 years and half-pay options.

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

Entitlement

13 wks

After

10 years

Worth at top step

$29,516

Half pay option

26 wks

On this page (5 sections)
  1. What it's worth
  2. How much you build up
  3. Ways to take it
  4. Moving schools, sectors or states
  5. FAQs

The short answer

Victorian government school teachers get 3 months' long service leave after 10 years of service, then 1.5 months for every further 5 years, under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006. You can take pro rata leave after 7 years, take it at half pay for twice as long, or in some cases cash part of it out.

Victoria's long service leave sits in law, in section 2.4.25 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006, rather than in the enterprise agreement. That makes it one of the more generous schemes for teachers: 3 months at the 10-year mark, against roughly 2 months in NSW.

The proposed VGSA 2026 changes one detail: public holidays will no longer count as part of a long service leave period. That applies once the agreement is approved by the Fair Work Commission.

What VIC long service leave is worth

3 months' long service leave after 10 years, then 1.5 months for every further 5 years, under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006. Pro-rata access after 7 years. Can be taken at half pay.

SalaryFull payValueHalf payValue
1-1 ($79,589)13 weeks$19,89726 weeks$19,897
2-6 ($118,063)13 weeks$29,51626 weeks$29,516

Gross value at current rates, before tax. Leave taken at half pay lasts twice as long for the same total value.

How much you build up

Victorian teacher long service leave (full-time service)
Years of serviceLong service leaveRoughly
7 (pro rata access)2.1 monthsabout 9 weeks
103 monthsabout 13 weeks
154.5 monthsabout 19.5 weeks
206 monthsabout 26 weeks

3 months after 10 years (the Act sets this as 495.6967 hours for full-time staff), then 1.5 months for each further 5 years. The 7-year figure is our pro rata calculation. Part-time service accrues proportionally.

Ways to take it

  • Full pay: the standard option.
  • Half pay: twice the time off for the same money, useful for a full term or a semester away.
  • Pro rata after 7 years: you don't have to wait for 10.
  • Paid out on leaving after 7 years: pay in lieu of pro rata leave on termination.
  • Commutation to salary: if you have 6 or more weeks of leave, you may be able to convert some to pay instead of time off.
Worked example

What 3 months of long service leave is worth at CT 2-6

Salary paid now (VGSA 2022)
$118,063
13 weeks at full pay
about $29,500 gross
At the proposed 1 Oct 2026 rate ($133,456)
about $33,360 gross
Taken at half pay
26 weeks off for the same money
Value of a 10-year entitlement about $29,500 to $33,400 before tax

Our calculation: salary x 13/52. Leave is paid at your rate when you take it, so leave taken after VGSA 2026 starts is worth more than the same leave taken today.

Moving schools, sectors or states

Service across Victorian government schools carries over. Recognition of Catholic, independent or interstate service is not automatic: there is no national portability scheme for teachers, and Victoria's community-sector portable LSL scheme covers some early childhood educators, not state school teachers. Ask the Department in writing before you move.

Free calculator

Estimate your long service leave

Enter your start date, time fraction and salary to see your Victorian entitlement and its value.

Open the calculator

Compare with NSW extended leave or the national picture in teacher long service leave across Australia. Current and proposed pay rates are on the Victorian teacher salary page.

Frequently asked questions

How much long service leave do Victorian teachers get?
3 months after 10 years of service, then 1.5 months for every further 5 years, under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006.
Can Victorian teachers take long service leave after 7 years?
Yes. Pro rata long service leave can be taken after 7 years, and pay in lieu is paid if you leave after 7 years.
Can I take long service leave at half pay in Victoria?
Yes. You can take long service leave at half pay, which doubles the time off for the same total pay.
Can Victorian teachers cash out long service leave?
In some cases. If you have 6 or more weeks of long service leave, you may be able to commute some of it to salary. Ask your principal or HR.
Does VGSA 2026 change long service leave?
Only slightly. Once approved, public holidays no longer count as part of a long service leave period. The 3-months-after-10-years rule is in legislation and doesn't change.
Does interstate service count towards Victorian long service leave?
Not automatically. There is no national teacher LSL portability scheme, so recognition depends on the Department's rules. Get confirmation in writing.

Sources we checked · last verified 16 October 2026

  1. 1.Proposed Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2026 (PDF, Department of Education)
  2. 2.Proposed VGSA 2026: Agreement Explanation (PDF)
  3. 3.Proposed VGSA 2026: Approval Process and FAQs (PDF)
  4. 4.Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022 (PDF)
  5. 5.Enterprise Bargaining: Overview (Department PAL)
  6. 6.Casual Relief Teacher Employment Handbook
  7. 7.Relocation incentives: Targeted Financial Incentives and Regional Relocation Incentive
  8. 8.Workforce support and initiatives: Attraction (Department PAL)

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.