The New South Wales rules
| Full entitlement | 10 years → 8.67 weeks (2 months), then +1 month for each further 5 years |
|---|---|
| Pro-rata | From 5 years — the earliest pro-rata in the country — but only if employment ends because you resign due to illness, incapacity or pressing need, you're dismissed (other than for serious and wilful misconduct), or you die. |
| Pay basis | Ordinary pay — specifically the higher of your last pay period's ordinary pay and your average weekly pay over the previous 5 years. |
Worked example
Ten years at $1,500 a week = 8.67 weeks ≈ $13,005. Six years and leaving due to illness = 5.2 weeks ≈ $7,800. Six years and an ordinary resignation = $0 — the reason is everything in NSW before year 10.
Other states differ — sometimes by thousands of dollars. Compare with the all-states calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get long service leave after 5 years in NSW?
Only as a payout when employment ends for specific reasons: resigning due to illness, incapacity or pressing need; being dismissed (except serious and wilful misconduct); or death. You can't take it as leave at 5 years — taking leave starts at 10.
How is NSW long service leave paid?
At your ordinary pay — the higher of your final pay period's ordinary rate and your 5-year average weekly pay.
Source: Service NSW — long service leave requirements (checked 1 November 2026). General private-sector rules; portable industry schemes and public-sector arrangements differ.