Same worker, eight answers
Nine years of service, $1,500 a week, ordinary resignation. Victoria pays ≈$11,700. WA the same. SA ≈$17,550. The ACT ≈$11,700 (vested at 7). NSW, Queensland, Tasmania and the NT pay $0 — wrong state, wrong reason, or both. Long service leave is the Australian entitlement where geography matters most.
| State | Full entitlement | Pro-rata from | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 10 years → 8.67 weeks (2 months), then +1 month for each further 5 years | 5 years (listed reasons) | New South Wales rules → |
| Victoria | No 10-year cliff: leave accrues at 1 week per 60 weeks of service and can be taken from 7 years (6.07 weeks banked by then) | 7 years (vested) | Victoria rules → |
| Queensland | 10 years → 8.6667 weeks, then +4.3333 weeks for each further 5 years | 7 years | Queensland rules → |
| Western Australia | 10 years → 8.667 weeks, then +4.333 weeks for each further 5 years | 7 years | Western Australia rules → |
| South Australia | 10 years → 13 weeks — accrued at 1.3 weeks for every year of service, the equal-highest rate in the country | 7 years | South Australia rules → |
| Tasmania | 10 years → 8⅔ weeks, then +4⅓ weeks for each further 5 years | 7 years | Tasmania rules → |
| Australian Capital Territory | 7 years → 6.0667 weeks, then +⅕ of a month for each further year — the ACT and Victoria have the earliest access in the country | 5 years (listed reasons) | Australian Capital Territory rules → |
| Northern Territory | 10 years → 13 weeks, accrued at 1.3 weeks per completed year — equal-highest in the country, but only whole years count | 7 years | Northern Territory rules → |
Frequently asked questions
How much long service leave do you get in Australia?
It depends entirely on your state. Most states give about 8.67 weeks after 10 years. South Australia and the Northern Territory give 13 weeks. Victoria and the ACT let you access leave after 7 years. There is no single national entitlement for most private-sector workers.
Can I get pro-rata long service leave if I resign?
Sometimes. WA and SA pay pro-rata on any exit from 7 years. Queensland pays nothing for an ordinary resignation before 10 years. NSW pays from 5 years but only for specific reasons like illness or dismissal. The state and the reason decide it — that's what the calculator above tests.
Is long service leave paid at my normal rate?
Broadly, yes — 'ordinary pay' in every state, though each defines it slightly differently (NSW uses the higher of your last pay period or your 5-year average). Overtime is generally excluded; regular loadings often aren't.
What happens to my long service leave if I change employers?
Usually it's lost — entitlement attaches to continuous service with one employer. Exceptions exist in portable industries (construction, cleaning, community services, contract security in some states), where a scheme authority holds your service record.
Rules checked against Fair Work Ombudsman and state government sources on 1 November 2026. Each state guide above links its official source.